Mary Boddington

I get inspiration from natural organic things e.g. seed heads which have been containers themselves in the past. I also enjoy the fact that clay is ‘of the earth’ working with it is inspiration in itself, and ideas develop as I work. I am half Swedish which is a culture that lives very close to nature and where the countryside is free for anyone to roam, with wonderful woods and lakes available. At the same time design in Scandinavia is very clean and uncluttered and both these are influences on my work.

I have been involved with clay nearly all my life and for fifteen years was a member of four Arts groups in the Surrey/Hants area and exhibited with these on a regular basis. I moved back to the Midlands in 2002.

I am now a member of Vis-u-al Arts Forum in Stratford-upon-Avon and The Gallery @ the Guild co-operative of artists in Chipping Campden

I work in stoneware clay and enjoy textures and lines as much as colour. In the past I did a lot of throwing on the wheel but nowadays I hand-build a lot more using slabbing, coiling and pinching methods, and often finish with matt glazes or engobes and colouring oxides. The work is twice fired in an electric kiln to 990 C. initially and then to 1260 C after glazing.

EMAIL: bodds@tesco.net