Adrift Pottery

After graduating with a Fine Art Degree in Sculpture from North Staffordshire Polytechnic in 1982 Karen worked in Community Arts for a few years before moving and living in Japan for 3 years where she studied Shodo (Japanese calligraphy) and taught English. Living in Japan was an experience that continues to inspire her work. Taking up working with clay on a full time basis back in 2009 Karen has never looked back! Clay, especially red earthenware is her passion. Karen makes a modern version of traditional slipware. Each piece is individually made, usually hand built. Creamy slip (liquid clay) is brushed or poured on and the drawing is made directly on the slip revealing the red clay body, a technique called sgraffito. Karen uses a limited palette of mainly raw iron, cobalt and copper oxide to add colour and depth to the work. She loves the idea of the pieces being used daily to eat and drink from. Karen’s inspiration comes directly from nature and the stunning wild landscape and coast of Pembrokeshire where she has made her home for the past 20 plus years.

Since establishing Adrift Pottery, Karen has built a devoted following both in the UK and internationally. Her work is represented by numerous galleries including Byard Art in Cambridge, Eastwood Fine Art, Yardstick Gallery, and Studio Cennen, and she exhibits regularly at craft fairs and open studio events across Wales and England. Karen’s pieces have found homes in private collections around the world, with collectors drawn to the tactile quality, narrative detail, and folk-art sensibility of her work.

Adrift Pottery is characterised by its use of traditional slipware techniques combined with sgraffito drawing, a method that involves scratching through layers of slip to reveal the red earthenware clay beneath. Karen works with red earthenware clay, creating both thrown and hand-built forms, mugs, bowls, dishes, jugs, and decorative items, that are designed to be used daily or displayed as art. Each piece begins with a coating of slip, onto which Karen paints natural oxides directly to add depth and subtle colour. She then uses the sgraffito technique to draw her intricate illustrations of birds, curlews, herons, wrens, ravens, owls, as well as botanicals, landscapes, and other natural motifs.