Coming to ceramics from a background in rush-work and basketry, my functional work aims to combine these two concerns, with the impermanence of the rush-work contrasted by the permanence of porcelain. The natural forms created by the rush bundles, organic and transient in nature, leave a fossil-like record once translated into ceramics.
The natural beauty of Lough Derg draws me. There, I harvest my bull rushes (Scirpus Lacustris) chest deep in fresh waters. These then go through a lengthy process before being woven to create insulating sleeves for ceramic pieces or cast to leave a permanent imprint on the ceramics.
This combination of natural, but diverse materials produces functional pieces to comfort the user in everyday life, re-connecting to the natural source.
