Clare Cummins studied sculpture at Maidstone College of Art from 1984-1987. Whilst there, Clare took pottery classes and quickly found that ceramics were her preferred medium. She now works from her studio in her garden at Hethersett, Norwich.

Clare sources her clay from the area surrounding her home, digging clay from the fields (with farmers permission!) which she then soaks and sieves, and uses it in her pottery. This results in a randomisation to the colouring of her work which Clare loves, as she is never sure of the result after firing. While being natural and earthy, the clay, once fired, can produce any colour, and it is this chance that inspires Clare in her coiling and ribboning of clays.

All her pieces are individually crafted using a mixture of clays and oxides. Clare combines different clays and during the burnishing process, she mixes the colours of the clays to create a beautiful feathered pattern. These seams of colour encircle the pots, and Clare sometimes adds a wrapped effect to the pots as if they are curled around and sealed. She leaves her pots unglazed, therefore, they are unsuitable for liquids, but the technique of hand burnishing gives them a beautifully natural and velvety finish.

Photographs are property of the gallery and the artist.