Rowena Gilbert

After graduating with a BA Hons Three Dimensional Crafts specialising in Ceramics at the University of Brighton, Rowena went on to Win "The Best Up & Coming Local Artist Award, Brighton & Hove 2002" and set up in a ceramic art studio in Brighton, East Sussex, as a full time artist and maker.  Her focus of recent years has been in developing contemporary ceramic vessels that have gained her exhibitions nationally and internationally:

“I am searching for the perfect fusion of strong design, innovative style and spontaneous expression. The clay vessel is my bold canvas; strong, simple and unfussy in form. Layers of clay echo periods of time, memories; slow, controlled, ordered. The surface evokes moods, tensions, actions, reactions.”

Using additions of metal oxides for the reds, blacks or blues, the coloured clay layers are brushed on the slip cast vessel or inlaid in incised lines and marks. The surface marks are created using various sgraffito tools when the clay vessel is in a leather-hard state. Rowena bisque fires, then masks areas on the outside of the vessel using wax resist, glazing the inside and the unmasked areas with a transparent gloss with the final firing at 1160°C.  All pieces are handmade and have Rowena's signature mark on the base.