Potter Steve Wright spent a lot of time at school in the pottery room during 1970 - 1974. Mr Hibbins was his tutor and he let Steve into the pottery during free time and dinner breaks. This gave him a head start into the world of pottery.
Steve also worked at Fishley Holland's & Sheldon Pottery. Steve Recalls, "Both Fishley Holland’s & Sheldon’s pottery used terracotta clays which is probably the reason why I have always stuck to terracotta. They also used slip decoration and I seemed to have fallen into this trend as well. Terra Sigillata & Scrafitto are two techniques from the past which I also like very much. They can be more time consuming, depending on how detailed you are going, hence this can make it more expensive to produce. Scrafitto has many different approaches to it and I try to utilise as many techniques as I can in this type of work. This way of working with clay goes back to early European, Byzantine earthenware. Slip techniques take you right back to the Oriental and Mediterranean traditions."
While studying Television for 5 years (We are program makers and also produce corporate video, audio and photographic work www.tv2day.net), there was a ceramic class room on site. Steve asked the lecturer, May Mitchell, if there was any chance of doing some throwing and she welcomed Steve in for two afternoons a week. His work inspired quite a few disabled people to have a go at throwing pots on the wheel. When concluding his studies, May Mitchel was also taking retirement and asked Steve to apply for the job as lecturer in Ceramics. It wasn’t the right time just then – although now, we wonder – maybe he should have gone for it. Heather Murray is also a potter and exhibits her jewellery here at the gallery. More on her on her links page.  Draggonflies seem to be a favourite here. We have them on cups, mugs, egg cups, butter dishes - you name it, we have it.  Steve uses a combination of decorating techniques including, slip decoration, scrafitto (also known as Sgraffito), resist decor, undergalze decoration and over glaze. |
 Steve says "Since I was 5 years old I guess I've been interested doing things with my hands, whether that is in wood or other materials. When I was 13 I was well into pottery and art. I drifted from that in order to earn a living and went into electronics/engineering and now I find myself back to pottery. But all along, I never lost the love of pottery & craft. Craft is where we all began besides learning to farm at the same time. Craft matters because otherwise we will all forget how things are made - how soap is made, how a glaze is made. We must not forget." While still studying TV, Elaine Brown, manager of Vane Farm (RSPB) let Steve have the use of her kiln and wheel. We set up in business in 1998 producing corporate, documentary and TV videos and pottery was on the back burner. Steve played around with the wheel but never got as far as the glazing stage. We just didn't have the facilities for it. However, after moving to the farmhouse, it meant that it was possible to set things up.
In the space of two months prior to the 2008 Pittenweem Arts Festival we not only converted a space that was open to the weather, but we also came up with these designs and many more. Year 2 at the festival we practically sold out. So we are busy replenishing stock now.  Steve's eldest daughter asked if I would do Aztec designs. An example is found to the left. If you wish, you can make a request. Contact us here  These bowls are based on a scientific study on how weather patterns are formed by the rotation of the earth. |
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