Down to Earth

I spent my childhood on the island of Funen in rural Denmark. I climbed as many trees as possible, picked apples in our family orchard, and walked the rocky shores. I took in the colours, the smells, sounds and patterns of this tiny community. It was during a visit to my uncle and aunt’s clay studio near Copenhagen that all these impressions came together for me. Their home and studio vibrated with ideas, creativity and art; I felt an immediate kinship.

Clay is natural and of the earth. Working with clay is both grounding and inspiring. All my work is handbuilt (in the world of clay this means made without the use of a potter’s wheel) and I enjoy the freedom handbuilding affords me. There’s no wheel spinning, no sounds, no need to center at the wheel; it is just my hands at work. Most of my pieces are made using the method of slab and coil. Slab work is done by rolling out the clay and forming with slabs whereas coiling means building pieces adding snakes of clay one at a time. This is a very intimate process. By the time I have finished a large piece I will have spent hours working on it. It is a way of communicating; the clay speaks to me, and I translate into my own language. Each piece emerges with its own story.

This passion, acquired in childhood, has accompanied me through my adulthood and all my years as a ceramic artist.

In the summer of 2023, I moved my clay studio to its new location in the heart of Duncan. The space that once was home to a boat, a motorcycle and various machinery, has taken on a new life as a ceramic studio. The front of the studio has been made into a little shop and display area, and I often invite other local artists to share the space with me. The News & Events page offers an up-to-date schedule of open hours and guests.