Yew Tree Gallery

These were all made at Stoneshill Pottery, which John and Heather set up at their home in 1964. Initially he made glazed domestic ware with enamel motifs, which soon evolved into painterly decorated vessel forms with only a nod to function, such as ‘mugs’ with tiny unusable handles!

All the while John was making pots, he was also using his drawing and painting skills to make wooden automata. Humorous and playful, these drew on his love of the sea and boats, amusing incidents in their family life and the theatricality of the stage and opera.

In 1996 John underwent severe heart surgery, which left him too weak to handle the large slabs of clay needed to make his vessel pots. Instead, he started ‘playing about’, as he said, sitting at the kitchen table with small lumps of clay. Under his responsive fingers these turned into small figures – notably angels, tigers, kings, queens, birds and fish. As he grew stronger, so did the scale of his sculptures, which also became more diverse in imagery. His love of story telling and folk tales is evident in many of these wall-reliefs and composite pieces featuring archetypal figures often associated with myth and legend. Music and “experiences dimly remembered from the past” added to his sources of inspiration for this new work.

His free-standing sculptures often show a family group, posing as if for a photographer, rather wearily but with great resilience. Set in a background of sheltering trees or ancient stones or barge-like boats, his figures have an enduring, timeless quality.

Two earlier available sculptures relating to the sea are –

In many of the sculptures John’s imagination let rip – especially in the graphic decoration of the beards of his statuesque King’s heads. Leaping tigers, tangled roses, writhing snakes and slavering dogs run riot below the startled eyes of the King. In fact, humour was never far from his work, albeit often wry humour.

The forthcoming film, giving a tour of the whole exhibition, will be the best way to catch a glimpse of the many other exceptional pieces we have brought together to show what a multi-faceted artist John was.

Meanwhile, here is a selection of work from John’s last firing, which will be for sale.

Touching now on yet another aspect of his creativity – his inspirational teaching – leads us into the second gallery room where 3 of his ex-students from West Surrey College of Art and Design pay homage to John through their own words and their current work. The idea for this liaising was mooted during his lifetime, which he embraced with enthusiasm, but time ran out before it could happen.

Judith Rowe is well known for her joyful ‘summery’ earthenware pots, decorated with slips and metal oxides. Her love of nature, particularly birds and wild flowers, feeds the imagery on her tableware and larger pieces. A natural teacher, she started a small pottery school for children after graduating, and taught at Bradfield College

Duibhne Gough sources rare and unusual precious stones to combine with silver and gold in necklaces and earrings, and is also well known for her silver bangles and chains. One of her great skills is the often unexpected but always appealing juxtaposition of colours and texture in the necklaces, giving each her personal touch. Originally apprenticed to her father, Breon O’Casey, Duibhne has long since achieved recognition and success as a designer-jeweller in her own right.