The ceramic vessel…
The ceramic vessel tells the history of human life. I believe that the need to make is a basic instinct. Sorting out materials and figuring out thoughts through drawings is what I do. I delight in the process of making pots. I left Camberwell School of Art in Craft where I studied Ceramics in the mid 1980s, then worked on my own pots. After having children I became a pottery teacher.
In 2021 I took a leap of faith to finally set up my workshop at home and now work almost full time on my own ceramics again.
My Pots are one-off pieces inspired by nature, moving figures and feelings. This is all supported by my drawings and the total joy and sense of freedom I get from making pots. These pots are fired to stoneware and the planters are frostproof with drainage holes. Every pot is different however there are themes which make them work well in groups and collections.
Although Ancient Greek pots have been a huge form of inspiration especially in the depiction of runners, In the last year I have been working on themes of mythology. My Helios pots feature the god of sun and vision galloping across the sky on his chariot pulled by 4 flying horses. Also Flora the goddess of spring flowers and most recently pegasus carrying my helios pot! The inspiration for this was from a ceramics synopsis at Messums West about Danish ceramics. I was delighted to see the logo for a Danish Gallery. Den Frie was Pegasus ridden by a painter, I wanted my Pegasus to carry a pot!
I have been lucky enough to be able to get my pots out and about in the last couple of years to various galleries in the South West, such as Black Swan Arts in Frome, Messums West in Tisbury, The Malt House Gallery in Lyme Regis, Walford Mill in Wimborne and our own Fisherton Mill, Salisbury Library and Salisbury Artscene in Salisbury. I am going to be taking part in Celebrating Ceramics in Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire on July 11-13 and after that I have the great pleasure of exhibiting alongside my friends from The Lemon Timers at Fisherton Mill. I was so pleased to be invited to draw with them on Friday Mornings which has really helped to boost my drawing practice and it is wonderful to see such amazing and diverse ‘Drawers’ in action. The exhibition runs from the 26th July to the 23rd August and is called- Out Of Line out)https://fishertonmill.co.uk/august-2025/
Alongside making I do a bit of teaching art and pottery to adults and now I am also working with Salisbury Museum and Well City Salisbury to deliver pottery classes inspired by the past. This is the perfect fit for me as I am so inspired by the pots there and love to share my joy in clay. I also run an after school pottery club at Downton School.
My instagram is @jane_staniland and my website is www.janestaniland.com
