Jan was born in
inner-city Liverpool and since the age of 18 has been moving further south
and more remote ending in her current ideal setting in a tiny village. She
has not only project managed a new-build house, but also her lovely studio
all built from an eco-friendly approach. The studio is surrounded by open
fields and woodlands and this is having an influence on her ceramic style.
For the past 12 years, Jan`s style has been very bold with a strong
influence from architecture and a connection with the South American `Mayan`
style. However, recently this has given way to, but not entirely replaced,
a `softer` more textural approach.
Jan
works mainly using the `Raku` technique incorporating many organic elements
into the glazing and firing process. She is a great experimenter using
materials found in the woodland such as leaves, cones and pine needles to
`reduce` the effect of oxygen on the finished piece. This technique also
allows her to achieve the desired finishes of bright, crackled vibrant
colours contrasted with smoky black. The scale of work is growing larger
any many pieces are made to be displayed on plinths, both indoor and
outdoor. In fact, she is currently working on a series of sculptures to be
displayed in the external environment and many of these are made from
stoneware which withstand the elements a great deal more than raku. The
plinths, mostly made from clay, are retaining strong architectural lines
thus elevating the forms. She is also producing a series of textured panels
to be wall-hung, again inside or out.
