About
Jo’s studio practice is based at her home in Wiltshire; gallery representation is with Vessel London, Rabley Gallery in Marlborough & Culture Object in New York.
Inspired by ornament in architecture, recent works take aspects of the Rococo period as inspiration. Freedom of creativity and making each work unique is central to Jo’s practice; whilst the works reference the historic the outcomes are contemporary. Techniques are combined (hand building, extrusion, sprigging, potter’s wheel) to create each work, most recently in the form of sculptural vessels.
Work is fired once, unglazed, in order for the clay to communicate the marks, textures and surface without hindrance. A range of clays are used from porcelain to rough, grogged bodies; clay often has colour mixed through using body stains or sometimes has slip applied. Finished works can be free standing, wall hung or group assembly.
Educational achievements include an MA in Ceramics with distinction (2012), BA in Ceramics (2005) and Professional graduate Certificate in Education (2007) all with Bath Spa University.
Works are held in public collections of organisations including Pallant House, Aberystwyth University, Chippenham Museum, Swindon Museum & Bath Spa University.
Her teaching practice is freelance and includes delivering residential short courses at West Dean College and working with the Pathways to Wellbeing Project at the Holburne Museum, Bath.
Career highlights include a commission by ITV in 2019 to interpret their logo as sculpture, filmed for an ident as part of project “ITV Creates”. During lockdown in 2020 she was commissioned by Crowood Press to write “Handbuilt Ceramics” published in October 2021. Her techniques were featured in Ceramic Review Magazine‘s “Masterclass” article & accompanying film in September 2020.
Exhibition highlights include COLLECT 2024 represented by Vessel Gallery, For Love of the Master, Dublin Castle 2022, Together We Rise, Chichester Cathedral 2022, solo show Convolutions in Clay at the Young Gallery, Salisbury 2022; COLLECT, Artefact and Crafting a Difference with Vessel Gallery; 10th Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale & RWA Sculpture Open 2019; PlatFORM at TATE Liverpool, 2018; Sweet 18, Kasteel D’Ursell 2015; solo show Emergence, Holburne Museum, Bath, 2012.
