About
With a passion for pottery ignited during school years, Stephen feels privileged to remain immersed in this absorbing and challenging art form. Having received education from Cambridge School of Art (foundation course) and The West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham (BA Hons Ceramics), followed by a postgraduate Art Teacher’s Certificate at Middlesex Polytechnic (Hornsey College), Stephen embarked on a career that combined teaching Art & Design with crafting ceramics. After serving as the Ceramics tutor at Marlborough College in Wiltshire for numerous years, Stephen returned to their native fens in Cambridgeshire. There, they established a workshop near Wicken Fen, shared with their wife, the artist Terry Beard. Recently, they relocated to a former Methodist Chapel, now converted into a studio, adjacent to Woodwalton Fen nature reserve. This serene fen woodland setting serves as a wellspring of inspiration for the creation of new ideas.
Specialising in handbuilt ceramics and Raku firing, Stephen’s work has garnered widespread exhibition both in the UK and abroad, finding homes in numerous public and private collections.
The allure of Raku firing lies in its direct engagement with each stage of the process, a fascination Stephen readily embraced. Their pottery reflects the intense drama of the firing process, drawing influences from diverse sources, including visual elements observed in both natural and built environments. Weathering, erosion, corrosion, and decay serve as constant wellsprings of inspiration.
Through a combination of crafting, glazing, and firing techniques, Stephen produces pieces that are wholly unique, each bearing the unmistakable imprint of their creative vision and the dynamic Raku process.
