‘Artists and artisans are alchemist. They transform base materials into objects of beauty, utility and delight’. Satish Kumar
Polly began working in clay in her early ‘20s inspired by the traditional potters she encountered while travelling in Asia, Africa and the Middle East with a documentary television company. Her love of ceramics developed further during this time under the guidance of inspiring teachers including Richard Phethean, Joanna Howells, Mirka Golden-Hann and Akiko Hirai. Eight years ago Polly moved from London to Dorset, where she set up a home studio and began to explore working with porcelain.
Polly’s work is simple and reflects the fluidity of the porcelain. The process, the physicality of throwing at the wheel and its meditative qualities are as important to her as the finished piece. She creates clean designs with a delicate rhythm and uses natural forms for decoration such as seedpods and sticks. Her works consists of subtly different shapes, which come together as a group or as sets. Most of the pieces are fired in an electric kiln using traditional porcelain celadon glazes as well as those she has developed herself. It is important to her that the pots she creates are both a visual pleasure and functional vessels that can be used everyday.