HOME

  WELCOME TO KATHERINE WINFREY EARTHENWARE POTTERY

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE POTTER AND HER POTS

 

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT or the long and winding road to being a self-employed potter

1985-1986                                 Voss Folkehøgskule, Voss, Norway. Craft foundation course

Spring 1989                              Ceramica Inglese, Centola, Italy. Production throwing and decorating

Dec. 1990 & Summer 1991     Eric Astoul's workshop, La Borne, France. Production throwing and wood firing

1991-1994                                 Farnham College of Art and Design. BA Hons. 3-Dimensional Design, Ceramics

1994-95                                     Atelier Bottani-Dechaud, La Borne, France. 15 month apprenticeship throwing, decorating and wood firing

July '96 - March '97                 Production throwing in Melbourne & Brisbane, Australia and Coromandel, New Zealand

Summer 1998                           Louis Mulcahy Pottery, Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry, Ireland. 6 months production throwing

From October 1998                 Self-employed. Own workshop near the Cambridgeshire/Linclonshire border.

  

INFLUENCES, INSPIRATION & TECHNIQUE or the how, the why and the wherefore 

 The work is slip decorated earthenware, mainly domesticware but also some one-off pieces.

 Much of my craft has been learnt in France so I am greatly influences by French ceramics, both old and contempory,  handmade and manufactured. I am also inspired by various folk arts from around the world, architectural twiddles, all forms of ceramics, old English slipware and and the natural world.

 The work is made with Valentines' grogged red earthenware clay and is oven and dishwasher safe. It is mainly thrown but some pieces are then altered and hand built elements applied where fitting.

The pots are covered in an off-white slip of Hyplas 71 ball clay and then decorated with coloured slips with a combination of slip trailing, brush work and sgraffito. After a biscuit firing at 1000°C the pots are glazed by dipping and pouring and then fired to cone 03 with a half hour soak at the end.

 Form and function are important but I must also enjoy making the piece, the owner must enjoy using it and it must make us both smile.

 

 

ACHIEVEMENTS or a few excitements along the way 

 May 2005          Helping to fire the Talbot kiln, a large 19th century woodfired kiln in La Borne, France

June 2007          Winner of best stand at Earth & Fire, Rufford, Notts

July 2007           Sole UK potter invited to participate in 'La Borne s'enflamme', international woodfiring symposium

Feb. 2009           Participant at India's first 'Terracotta Camp', New Delhi

May 2011          Originated and organised Stamford's 1st Ceramic Market.  

July 2014            Winner of Potfest prize, Potfest in the Park, Cumbria.             

 

 

  

my signature