Chamisso

Collaged paper and acrylic on board with cold wax
61cm x 61cm

I trained in ceramics at Central School of Art (now Central St Martins) in London and at Hornsey School of Art Foundation course in North London. I left Central School in 1980 with a First Class Hons BA in ceramics.

I spent 30 years making and exhibiting hand-built ceramics as well as running a business, Fox Grosse & Gold, that made and sold transfer-decorated tableware.

During my career I have worked as an Artist in Schools undertaking numerous clay and drawing projects with primary school children. I also developed curriculART, a website resource for teachers, promoting art in primary schools.

Along the way I set up and ran York Open Studios with Anne Hutchison, now celebrating its 21st year with a new team.

I changed direction from ceramics to making abstract collages in 2010.

The way I work with collage is a fairly wild process to begin with the laying down of something in a relatively random way. I want the work to be vigorous and lively but then that has to be reined in a little to tame it into a place of balance, poise and calmness. Harmony comes from a wild process of infinitesimal adjustments.

I gave up making pots because sometimes in order to do something exciting you have to be prepared to give up a familiar thing and begin afresh.