First Ever Cornwall Ceramics Trail

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Kat Wheeler ceramics

First Ever Cornwall Ceramics Trail Launches to coincide with the St Ives September Festival 2013.

The history of ceramics in Cornwall is of great importance to the art history of both this region and the wider world, and attracts students, academics and cultural visitors from across the UK and internationally. Alongside established public venues such as the Leach Pottery St Ives and a wealth of private ceramics galleries, the county supports a broad community of independent ceramicists working from private studios.

Timed to coincide with the St Ives September Festival 2013, from Saturday 14th to Saturday 28th September this year the first ever Ceramics Trail Cornwall will see potters and ceramicists opening up their working studios to the public. Throughout the event fans of contemporary Cornish pottery will have a unique opportunity to meet and engage with ceramicists, see them at work in their pottery studios and purchase works direct.

French born potter Michel François, whose rural studio is situated near Breage just outside Helston says “The tradition of ceramics in Cornwall remains as vibrant as ever, and I think potters here are unique in their commitment and singular approach to the discipline. There is such a diversity of creative talent here and for independent potters like me the Ceramics Trail presents a great opportunity to raise awareness of contemporary ceramics in the region. It’s really about educating and engaging with the public.”

Tim Lake ceramics

Director of the Leach Pottery Julia Twomlow says “For a long time we have been talking about setting up a network of all the potters in West Cornwall, apparently Cornwall has the highest number of ceramicists outside of London. It isn’t by accident that such a high number of potters are based here. Cornwall has, I understand, the longest continuous history of pottery production in the country. Lots of people come to St Ives to visit the Leach Pottery, especially during the September Festival, but they don’t necessarily know about the small independent potteries in the area. The fact that we still have such an active and thriving pottery scene is worth celebrating and the Ceramics Trail is a great way to do it.”

Ceramics Trail artists include Michel François, Jacob Bodilly, Michel Roux, Britta Wengeler, Roelof Uys, Kat Wheeler, Rick Henham, Jack Doherty, Essex Tyler, Tony Lattimer, Peter Swanson, Nic Harrison, Rebecca Harvey, Amanda Brier, Tim Lake, Charlotte Jones, Adrian Brough, Louise Thompson, Sarah Dunstan and many more.

The Ceramics Trail map will be included with the St Ives September Festival programme, available across the county in galleries and tourist information centres. The event will also be supported by a dedicated website to be launched ahead of September.

For further information contact Julia Twomlow at Leach Pottery in St Ives www.leachpottery.com

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