clay works studio dumfries
We believe in community, creativity and the benefits of making with clay. Clay
Works Studios Dumfries is a Ceramic/Pottery workshop which provides a friendly,
informal and supportive environment where everyone is welcome to come and get
hands on with Clay, learn new Ceramic techniques and/or develop existing skills.
portrait.jpg LAUREN TAYLOR Lauren graduated from Glasgow School of Art with BA
(hons) Ceramics in 2000. Following this she worked for Dalton Pottery in
Dumfries & Galloway, assisting people to throw pots and helping with the
production of their slipcast ceramics. Whilst traveling in Australia she worked
for various potters making functional Pottery on the wheel. On return Lauren
moved to Totnes in Devon to work as an Apprentice at Dartington Pottery. Here
she gained in depth practical knowledge of pottery workshop practice . Lauren
went on to work as Production Thrower for Dartington Pottery until she moved to
North Devon to work as Ceramics technician and recreational Teacher at North
Devon College. Whilst working at the College she also completed PCET Teacher
training qualification. Since the birth of her first Daughter in 2008, Lauren
has been mainly working as a mother, whilst also making pots and doing pencil
Portraits. Lauren exhibited her porcelain vases as part of Spring Fling 2012,
and has exhibited her Ceramics since at Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries.
Instagram. @clayworksstudiodumfries JENNY FINCH Born in 1962 in Essex, always
knowing I wanted to lead an artistic life. I followed my wonderful art
foundation course at Colchester with a degree in ceramics at Birmingham Poly. I
founded Dalton Pottery in 1989 with my late husband Geoff and we enjoyed over 25
happy years working together and raising two brilliant sons. They say that the
only thing you can be sure of in life, is that it will keep changing. Some of
those changes are very hard, and I have found the one thing that always gets me
through those challenges is my creativity and the creative community. Chris and
Lauren have built such a wonderful resource at Clayworks and I am proud to be
part of the team. One of the most rewarding things about spending a lifetime
understanding the medium of clay, is passing on those skills to those who are
just discovering how meditative and rewarding it is to work with. Whether
painting, potting, sculpting, writing, or teaching I hope to never stop pushing
the boundaries and challenging myself to be the best I can.
120777122_2839475512940495_7861241450601659473_n.jpg CHRIS TAYLOR After
graduating from the University of the West of England in 1999 Chris became an
apprentice at Dartington Pottery, Totnes. On completion of his apprenticeship he
went on to work for several potters around the UK before beginning to develop
his own range of tableware in 2005. In 2006 Chris became potter in residence at
the Beaford Arts Centre where he worked until its closure in 2013. In 2009 Chris
began studying for an MA in Ceramics and Glass at the Royal College of Art
graduating in 2011. It was during this period of study that Chris’ work evolved
in to the heavily decorated and layered work seen today. In recent years Chris
has won several awards for his work and exhibits across the UK in a variety of
galleries and live events.In recent years Chris has worked as lecturer of
Ceramics at Plymouth College of Art across the BA and MA programs. Instagram.
@c.taylor.design R1-02563-031A.JPG ABBIE LA ROOY Abbie graduated with BA Design
(First Class Honours) from Goldsmiths University of London in 2019. After
graduating Abbie went on to work for Joanna Bird Contemporary Collections,
London. Here she planned numerous exhibitions and oversaw the sale of
significant ceramic works. Following this Abbie set up a home studio in Sussex.
Here she began to develop her own work, primarily working with slab building and
throwing. Since moving to Dumfries she continues to experiment and develop her
work whilst assisting and teaching in the studio. Instagram.@abbielarooy