Mary has always been intrigued by shorelines. She lived on the Californian coast for many years and is now located on the West Cornish coast. She finds inspiration in the meeting point between land and sea, which is not fixed and is constantly in a state of ephemeral flux.
Mary’s garden studio, nestled next to the North Cliffs in West Cornwall, is more than just a workspace. It’s a sanctuary that infuses her ceramic artwork with the unique qualities of this coastal region. The rugged beauty of the cliffs, the ever-changing colours of the sea, and the gentle whispers of the wind all find their way into her creations, making each piece a testament to the enchantment of this place.
The Process.
Working with locally sourced clay from St. Agnes, Mary throws and turns the initial vessel base shape on a wheel. The piece is then dried to a specific state, cut into, and altered; at this point, thin clay ribbons and texture are added to create a sense of movement, which is evident in her work. It can take weeks for the pieces to be completed before more time is taken to thoroughly dry them before they are fired twice in an electric kiln.
Selected Group Exhibitions
‘Living Earth, The Poly, Falmouth, 2 – 6th September 2025
The Crypt Gallery, 5 – 11th July 2025
‘Convergence’, The Poly, Falmouth, 27 – 31st May 2025
‘Woodland Wonderland’, Trelissick Gallery, 3 May – 27 September 2025
The Old Lifeboat House, Porthleven, 26 April – 2nd May 2025
‘Gathering’, The Crypt, St Ives November 2024
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton November-December 2024
‘Imagine,’ Falmouth, October 2024-January 2025
The Netloft, Porthleven September 2024
The Netloft, Porthleven July 2024
‘Colours of Summer,’ The Poly, Falmouth July 2024
Aldeburgh Contemporary, Summer Exhibition, 17 – 31 August 2024
‘Colours of Summer’, Falmouth, 9 – 13 July 2024
Samuel Lingwood Gallery, ‘Go Softly,’ May – July 2024
‘Above and Below,’ CCA Summer Exhibition, April – Oct 2024
Yntra,n bysow gwiw, Penwith Gallery, 12 April – 13 May 2024
Form Falmouth, Cornwall, September 2023
Colours of Cornwall, Penwith Gallery, St Ives, August-September 2023
Penlea Galleries, Penzance, Winter 2019
Delamore Arts, Devon, Spring 2019
25 Southside, Plymouth, Autumn 2018
Obsidian Arts, Summer 2018
Delamore Arts, Devon, Spring 2018
Albany Gallery, Cardiff, 2017-18
Joie Devivre, Surrey 2017-18
A2 Gallery, Somerset 2017-18
Cotehele Gallery, Saltash 2017
Yvonne Arnaud Art, Guildford, 2017
Delamore Arts, Devon, Spring 2017
AppArt, Surrey 2017
H.Forman & Son Gallery, ‘The Sea, the sea’, January 2017
Delamore Arts, Devon Spring 201
VK gallery, Coastal Exhibition, Cambridge, May 2016
David Smith Contemporary Art, Coastal Elements, Summer 2015
Full List Available on request
Awards
March Heritage Crafts Trainer of the Year 2015
National Trust First Open Call 2015
Radio
BBC Cornwall, September 2014, 2017, 2018 & 2019
Coast Radio, August & November 2017
BBC Surrey 2014
Publications
The St Ives Times and Echo and Hayle Times, April 12, 2024
My Cornwall – August – September 2022
Drift Art Review – The Collection Companion of Cornwall Art 2022
St Ives Times & Echo, Sept 2019
Cornwall Today, Sept 2018
The Cornishman, Sept 2018
St Ives Times & Echo, Sept 2018
Cornwall Life, August 2018
St Ives Times & Echo, August 7th & 21st 2018
The Packet, August 2018
Times & Echo Hayle, Dec 2016 & Jan 2017
Ceramics Technical Magazine No 41, 2015
Coast Magazine, September 2015
The Cornishman, September 2015
St Ives Times & Echo, Sept 2015
Ceramic Review, Spring 2015
Cornwall Life, September 2014
Book Inclusion – Pit Firing: Ancient Techniques, Modern Methods by Dawn Whitehead, Schiffer Publishing PA
Full list available on request
Education
Morley College, London – Surface Exploration, January 2014
Wimbledon College of Art – UAL, BA (Hons), 2007
Practice and Theory in Fine Art and Design
Putney Art College, 2000/5, Ceramics course study
Kingston University, Art Foundation Studies, 2000/1
Galleries & Affiliations
Cornwall Craft Association – Permanent Member
Penwith Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall – Permanent Member
The Roundhouse Gallery, Sennen Cove, Cornwall
Crafts Council – Funded by Arts Council England
Glasgow Drawing School
The Torrance Gallery, Edinburgh
Aldeburgh Contemporary Arts, Suffolk
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