Small-group classes, raku firing days, and a friendly studio five
minutes from Eastbourne station.
30 years of clay, teaching, and exhibitions
About Graham
I initially began by throwing and coiling large garden pots. I
then started working on functional domestic ware, making work for
shows and fairs.
My most recent work is slab assembled from clay inlaid with
porcelain. It is heavily grogged to give a distinctive black
texture and along with coloured slips and various clay bodies it
has a geological feel. Roughly torn and twisted edges add to this
natural look of strata, cliff faces and eroded rocky landscapes.
All these sculptural pieces are fired to 1240°, oxides and
transparent glaze are brushed and rubbed into the surface after a
bisque firing.
I run regular classes at The Clay Workshop which is situated a
five-minute walk from Eastbourne train station.
Selected Exhibitions
1991 - Raku Pots at Gallery Regalia. Leeds.
1992 - Cathedral Parsonage Carlisle.
1992 - New Designers Islington.
1993 - Slab Temple Pots Motcombe Eastbourne.
1994 to 98 - Brighton Festival Open Houses.
1998 to 2002 - Ditchling.
1998 - Hesketh Gallery Lewes.
2000 to 2012 - Eastbourne Open Houses.
2005 to 2016 - Lammas Festival Easbourne.
2006 to Present - Meads Xmas Show Eastbourne.
2013/14 - West Dean Friston.
2014/15 - Courthouse Gallery Alfriston.
2016 to 2019 - Clay Workshop Open Studios.
2019/20 - Waterloo Gallery Alfriston.
2022 - Crypt Gallery Seaford.
Workshops
Current classes are as follows.
Monday evening 5pm till 7 p.m. — drop-in session, paid on the day.
Tuesday afternoon 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday afternoon 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday evening 5pm until 8 p.m.
Thursday morning 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Friday morning 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. — Sculpture Class
The sculpture class is run by artist and sculptor Maggie Edwards and
is a drop-in pay-on-the-day session. All classes are £12 per hour.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are run in blocks of 5 or 10
sessions. This will include all materials. The Clay workshop is fully
equipped with all tools etc. Please contact Graham for any details and
bookings etc. through the contact link.
Raku
I have also taken a keen interest in Japanese ceramics, being
influenced by Oribe stoneware of the late 16th and 17th century, and
particularly taken with the nature of making, the beautiful greens and
ochres and masterly decorative brush work. The Japanese are also
famous for their raku pots, these are taken from the kiln at 1000° and
cooled quickly. I have run many raku workshops and summer schools over
the years and continue to do so at my studio, The Clay Workshop in
Eastbourne.
Gallery
Here are some examples of work made in the workshop.
