Biography
I have always loved texture, to me it starts the journey whether it be ceramics, textiles or life.
When I started handling clay I was very excited by all its versatility! You could craft a pinch pot or work with coils, slabs, create functional ware, you name it. The wheel proved to be the ultimate challenge and fantastic fun. Over the years I have always been drawn back to hand building.
I started my ceramics journey in Paddington in the early 1980’s with Alison Britton as my tutor. Little does she know how much she hooked me into clay. I potted for many years until moving out of London into Surrey. It was during this period that I was able to set up a pottery at home developing my technical skills.
The raku firings in the country always proved to be a highlight. My children grew up with the smell of kilns and sawdust never far away. The yearly exhibitions we presented where immensely rewarding and showed what could be achieved with clay.
Whilst attending the International potter’s camp in Aberystwyth in 2007 I met Archie McCall, the lead tutor of design at Glasgow School of Art. He encouraged me to enrol on a distance learning degree course in Ceramics from the Art School. This was my chance to challenge and extend my abilities. The intention was to be in a position to gain further inspiration from like-minded potters as well as diversifying my skills. I experienced a wealth of incredible tutorials and a trip to The International potters camp in Kecskemet Hungary. I gained particular inspiration spending a week working with Ken Eastman. This convinced me that slab built vessels was the direction I was heading for.
After four years study, I graduated in July 2012 with a BA from Glasgow School of Art, with an enriched understanding of ceramics, and far broader network of potter contacts. After leaving Glasgow I have been working with different raku kilns and firings, being inspired by experimenting with glazes, metals and firing temperatures.
Raku is my chosen route, the excitement of firing pots outside and playing with fire is always challenging. I love working with different textures and glazes, creating surfaces which deceive the eye.
There will always be another piece to be made
Mobile: 07787 546 895
Email: info@gaynorwilsonceramics.com
2026