John Mather

Influenced by contemporary potters such as Mike Dodd, I make wheel-thrown functional stoneware, reduction-fired in a gas kiln. Glazes are made from wood ash and a variety of rocks and minerals sourced both locally and nationally. Decoration is simple, using throwing marks and incised lines to generate differences in glaze thickness. These result in contrasts in colour and variations between gloss and matt finishes. In addition flashes of minerals, such as tourmaline, and oxides of iron are used to add interest to glazed surfaces.

By background I am a professional geologist and spent 24 years with the British Geological Survey before moving to the University of London. A collector of ceramics for many years; when I moved to Devon in 2002, I enrolled as a pupil of Bruce Chivers, latterly at South Devon College. I now have my own small workshop at Crockernwell in Mid Devon, selling locally at fairs, potters markets and open studio events.