Stratum, soda wood fired stoneware with granite inclusions, porcelain slip and celadon glaze, 2021, 23x20x24cm

Murlough Bay sits on the North East coast of Ireland in Co. Antrim, a small bay resting at the base of steep hills and cliffs. It’s a secluded spot, quiet and peaceful in comparison to the tours of people along the north coast. This place brings you back in time, with the only sights being that of a small cottage, battered coastal trees, the ocean lapping over the basalt boulders, and the occasional sighting of Scotland across the water. This place is special, it is monumental in its quiet presence, it is not demanding of our attention yet once there you cannot help but give it all of yours. As society races through time, going through periods of fighting and peace this place moves barely an inch. Almost godly in its appearance of permanence. 

The pieces within the Stratum series continue on from the Extrusive pieces. These are further explorations of Murlough Bay. These pieces possess an inherent chaos, there appears to be no real base, no place for them to be connected to the earth, they simply rest how they fall. These pieces are made either hollow or solid, occasionally allowing us to catch a glimmer of what is hidden. They are made in a variety of clay bodies and glazes.

The wood fired pieces are fired in either Nic Collins wood kiln or Sabine Nemets wood soda kiln in Devon, UK.

Stratum, wood fired stoneware with granite inclusions, shino type glaze, 2021, 13x11x29cm

Stratum, soda wood fired unglazed stoneware with granite inclusions, 2020, 19.3x25x22cm

Stratum, wood fired unglazed porcelain with granite inclusions, 2020, 22x20.5x17.5cm

Stratum no 2, 2020, 18x21x21cm