The clay I use is largely commercial and I like to experiment with varieties that have different properties. When the opportunity arises I will gather wild clay from the environment.
To model the clay I use my hands and small selection of tools, often improvised. I am fortunate to have a labour saving slab roller and my work is bisque fired in an electric kiln. I do not use glazes. My work is predominantly finished using the smoke-firing technique for which I use a galvanised metal dustbin. I burn a variety of locally sourced combustible materials including wood shavings, seaweed, banana skins, nut shells and other kitchen and garden waste. The addition of chemical oxides can also influence the colour variations achieved.
Once fired and finished, the application of a beeswax polish helps to define the colour and texture of the work. Each piece is entirely individual.