About
Kate Towner Handmade Slip Decorated Ceramics
Working from my garden studio, in Crawley, West Sussex, most of my pieces are hand thrown in red earthenware clay and decorated using coloured slips, sgraffito, slip trailing with a clear glaze. I've been using these techniques for a number of years and love using red clay for its feeling of warmth and the additional interest it offers to the finished pot. There's something enticing when red clay is coated with white slip, resembling that of melted chocolate! The process seems to naturally offer itself to food which is a great concept when many of the pots I make are intended for functional use.
My introduction to clay was at Primary School where I very proudly made my first thumb pot. At Secondary school, I was lucky enough to be reunited with clay and under the guidance of a great tutor I achieved both ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels in Pottery. At this time, I mainly concentrated on hand building with some throwing but was inspired, during visits to a number of different potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, by watching accomplished throwers at the wheel making magnificent shaped pots out of a ball of clay, with effortless energy and speed. It left me feeling enthused and with the hope that maybe one day I may acquire the same skills.
However, it wasn’t until over a decade later that I decided to pursue the passion I had felt towards clay. I enrolled onto a throwing course with Seth Cardew (son of Pioneer Potter Michael Cardew) at Wenford Bridge and after spending a magical week under his tuition making small pots, using a stand up kick wheel, my love for the craft was firmly re-kindled. I met some wonderful people on the course from all around the world and I remember feeling so privileged when Seth showed us all his private collection of master pieces, all made by numerous different potters. This experience certainly impressed upon us all the appreciation of the life and personality held within a handmade pot. It was an inspiring moment!
Upon returning home, I was desperate to practise my newly acquired throwing skills, but in the absence of a wheel, I started making coiled pots on my dining table to help develop form and keep my hands satisfied. However, with no kiln to fire them, I soon acquired a growing collection of brittle, unfired pots. With a severe lack of space and an ever increasing desire to have a potters wheel, our garage was converted into a pottery studio.
Since attending Richard Phethean’s week long throwing block and his brilliant Slipware Masterclass I haven’t looked back. I love the multitude of decorative techniques that can be applied to pots using coloured slips. So, whenever possible, I now devote myself to transforming red earthenware clay into pieces that are handmade and filled with a passion for the craft.
Please browse my on-line gallery showing pieces of my work. Should you find anything you like please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can also check out my ‘Events’ page to find out where I’ll be next.
Personal Development
2010 December - Stand at Christmas Shopping Night at local school.
July - Open Studio Weekend.
April - Love Pots, Love Food weekend workshop at Whichford Pottery.
2009 - Slipware weekend workshop at Teana Pottery.
2008 - 7 day Slipware Masterclass with Richard Phethean at Sibford Ferris School.
2003 - Five day throwing course with Richard Phethean at Sibford Ferris School.
2001 - Five day throwing course with Seth Cardew at Wenford Bridge.
1984 & 1986 Ifield Community College - Crawley, West Sussex. ‘O’ and ‘A’ level in both Art and Ceramics.