How do you describe what you do?
Ceramic bowls, tiles, decorations using Sgraffito, linocut impressions, painting on glazes and underglazes in a free linear style.
How did you get started as an artist?
I started as soon as I could hold a pencil. I did my first drawing at two after my first vaccine of a trolley with a kidney bowl. I copied a picture in a book and the teacher took it around the whole school at primary school.
What makes your work and/or process unique?
Simple drawing style, quirky characters, free creation, and not feeling the need to conform.
What piece of work or project are you most proud of?
My degree show tile tabletop, as I did not think would I would finish my degree.
When you have the dreaded creative block, where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?
I do not get creative block, but I tend to not be in the mood sometimes. I have spurts where I make a lot and then have lulls. My inspiration comes from wordplay and forms. I just did a bowl based on an old tulip drawing where the leaves looked like arms, so I gave it legs. I draw birds in high heels, which is ironic as I cannot wear them. I am fortunate to not have a shortage of ideas, just not the technical brain to make them real. I would love to be more three dimensional, but my head is two dimensional.
What other artist or maker do you admire and why?
So many. Beryl Cook, Paula Rego, Henry Moore, Ant Savage Art, Lush Designs, Nicola Burrell and Edward Bawden.
Any books on your shelf or exhibitions and events coming up you can recommend?
Frida Kahlo - The Brush of Anguish
Searle’s Cats
Picasso’s Drawings
Artist’s Textiles 1940-1976
Savage Messiah H.S Eade
Raymond Briggs
The Velveteen Rabbit
I would recommend visiting the V&A, Design Museum, Fitzwilliam in Cambridge or the British Museum.
Why is Colchester Makerspace important to you/or and your work?
The Makerspace gives me the freedom to create and mix with other creatives. It is good to be a part of something so positive for so many. Whatever your skill level you’re always learning from others.
Fi’s work will be on display and available to buy for the month of December at Patch in front of the Makerspace at Trinity Works.