Although originally coming from a graphic design/publishing background, Alison has been involved in ceramics since 1996, when she started her initial pottery classes held by Geoff Ambler. Since then she has attended several Art & Design courses and she has exhibited in various North Devon galleries since 2002. She is also a member of North Devon Arts.
At present she is making non-functional vessels, where although form, space and integrity of line are her primary concerns, she endeavours to achieve an essence of the natural world around us, the tactile quality of a pebble on the beach or a suggestion of the delicate construction of a shell. To begin with she makes a small pinch pot from a ball of clay, slowly and meticulously she builds the piece up adding no more than three coils of clay a day. This gradual process gives her time to consider the shape as it grows, continuously looking at the form and lines developing. Once the building process is complete she coats the piece with slip, when partially dry she burnishes the clay using the back of a spoon or a polished pebble. The controlled and restrained development of the pieces is in complete contrast to the spontaneous surface decoration. Once the pots have had their first firing they are smoke-fired in a metal container with sawdust, newspaper or leaves from the garden. This creates haphazard markings on the vessels, some dramatic and vibrant, others subtle and gentle.

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