Pam Matthews – designer and maker
My relationship with ceramics is very much therapeutic and the actual process of making remains the most important aspect for me. However, I am becoming more involved and enthralled with layering oxides and glazes – which is – for want of a better word – “alchemy”.
Each bowl is hand-thrown using a stoneware clay, then sculpted and altered to create lines and textures which suggest landscapes. After first firing, I apply glazing materials in a painterly fashion, layering to build up depth of colour and effects.
My stoneware tiles are more obviously inspired by my love of the stunning coastlines of Scotland and the Western Isles. Although I do sometimes refer to images from my visits when designing each tile, I rather try to capture the essence of places, using incisions, lines and building up textures to represent natural features. Again, after firing each tile is decorated using a wide range of oxides, washes and glazes to create depth, tonal effects and still more tactile qualities with the intention of evoking memories of a well-loved time and place.
I live in Lancashire on the edge of the Pennine Moors.