The Sea as a Source of Inspiration

Many people come to Cornwall for the beautiful scenery and in particular a whole array of gorgeous beaches. It has been a particularly challenging time during lockdown as I know many people who visit Cornwall regularly often first coming here on family holidays when they were young.

When I first visited Cornwall I packed my camping gear onto my bicycle and took the train down to Penzance. It was the first time I had ever camped on my own and I discovered an amazing campsite not far from Penzance called Noongallas. I stayed there again last year with my son and some friends and all those memories of my first trip to Cornwall came flooding back.

Sennen Cove is one of my favourite beaches

I have always been drawn to the sea and it is a continuous source of inspiration for my work. I noticed a profound shift in my ceramics when I moved to Cornwall in 2009. I developed my signature turquoise glaze as a direct response to the astonishing vibrant blues of the sea at Porthcurno. The almost tropical hues continue to take my breath away and I can hardly believe that such colours appear around the Cornish coast.

Wandering along my local beach, I love to feel the majestic beauty of the sea and let my mind wander as my eyes gaze to the horizon. Images flash into my mind and new ideas for ceramics are born. This was how my Sea & Cliffs collection came into being as I explored the formation of the cliffs as they are shaped by the ocean whilst the movement and shape of the waves inspired my Fluted Landscape vessels. 

Fluted landscape Pots Photo credit: Anya Rice

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You can read more about my inspiration in this great article in Coast magazine