BIOGRAPHY

Lydia Collings is an East Anglian ceramic artist, specialises in raku and smoke firing techniques.

She began her journey with clay in 1995 as 'a complete novice', after studying Political Sciences and English literature and specialising in language teaching.

In the summer of 1997, she attended her first workshop in Florence with the British sculptor Mo Jupp. He was a key influence in Lydia’s career, and who encouraged her to start exhibiting her work.

Since then, she attended several UK and European workshops with internationally renowned ceramicists, such as David Roberts, Tjok Dessauvage and Jane Perryman.

In 2000, she set up her studio in Cambridgeshire and has since been showing her work in the UK. In 2010 she obtained a BA degree in Ceramic Design from Glasgow School of Art.

Her work includes abstract form, female torsos, vessels and animals.

Every piece is individually crafted and unique. It is burnished using homemade terra sigillata (an ultrafine clay slip) and fired between 950°C and 1100°C.

Her work is hand-built using various techniques, mainly slab building and press moulding.

The work is suitable for indoors only and the height ranges from 10 to 40 cm.

Her pieces' surfaces are unglazed, painted with smoke, and marked by seaweed, dried twigs, recycled newspapers, discarded horse hair, or oxides.

"My work is hand built and my interest is in sculptural forms rather than functional pots. Each piece is unique, rich in contrasts, light and dark, coloured or black and white."

Contact Lydia for more details about sales and commissions.

Lydia is a member of

Anglian Potters and

Cambridge Open Studios.