Hi! I'm Joy, a ceramic artist that makes both functional and                                                        sculptural pieces using traditional wheel-throwing and hand-building                                              techniques.

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                                          I draw inspiration from the beautiful coastlines and woodlands of                                                    Pembrokeshire. By infusing my work with local wild clay and natural                                                  materials, I create an enduring connection to place.

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                                          My evolving practice blends exploration with craftsmanship,

                                          reflecting the ever-changing landscape.

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My journey into ceramics started when I was a small child. Like many children I was

drawn towards playing in the mud.  Lots of happy hours spent making various

'mudpies' and rudimental pots from the squidgy clay of the back garden.  Fond

memories of carving out a road in a pile of earth with a butter knife to roll toy cars

through with my brother and sister.  

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Then of course there was playdough, plasticine and pastry.  But it wasn't really

until secondary school that I made anything of consequence with clay.  From the first day

                          making ashtrays! (well it was the 80's) I just fell in love with the medium.  I loved t                         the cool, silky feel of the clay.  The ease with which I could mould it in my hands                            and simply create something. The fact that you can just squash it all together                                and start again if it goes wrong.  I studied pottery for five years at school and it                              was a lesson unlike any other.  It was a place of self expression and

few restraints.  Somewhere to lose oneself and something, it turns out, I was fairly

good at. We had a laid back teacher who always had music playing.  Sometimes

he'd play a pupils choice; that's when I decided Thrash Metal really wasn't for me!

We were allowed to dip our pots in the hot molten wax and use oxide washes. 

I felt privileged to be able to use bits of glass on my final exam piece, not

something offered to the first year students. 

 

This was entered into an all schools competition and it won 'First Prize'. 

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However after school I studied catering, not thinking of pottery as a vocation.  Years passed, my children grew up and I joined an evening pottery class just for fun.  This was my first experience using a potters wheel.  That was it.  I couldn't let it go this time.  I set up my own studio at home and practiced when I wasn't working.  Fortunately, I was a school cook so I had the school holidays to immerse myself into it.  Then at last a stand alone ceramics degree course became available at Carmarthen School of Art, Coleg Sir Gar.  I did some math, took a deep breath and applied.  I was accepted and it was the best decision.  Three whole years of clay! Bliss.

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Of course the lure of the pottery studio is still as strong as school days. But these days I get to choose the music!

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