Helen Hargreaves

I studied at Harrow under Mick Casson during an exciting period of ceramic development (1969 –71). At that time, Walter Keeler, Mo Jupp, Colin Pearson, Ian Godfrey and others were also lecturers on the course. Later, I spent time working with David Eeles and then with Danny Killick. After that I set up my own workshop in Oxshott, Surrey. I also taught at Richmond Adult College.

I made thrown ware for many years and then felt a need for change. I went to India and was there for three years. Back home, I studied stained glass for a time but the forgiving qualities of clay pulled me back. I no longer work on the wheel, preferring to hand-build individual pieces. In my current work, elements of the bizarre come together with references to Eastern religious architecture. The shapes of the Cumbrian landscape also appear in some of the forms.

I use white stoneware clay or occasionally porcelain fired to 1250○C. Construction is mostly of soft or hard slab, though I do sometimes coil and press-mould as well. Colours are oxides, underglazes and slips.

Most of my work can be seen at galleries across Cumbria, where I love to go.