I have been of a fan of Claire's work for ages, first meeting at stalls, selling our wares side by side. Then introducing her work to East, who she now creates plates and bowls for. She creates small batch wheel- thrown tableware. Often featuring fun illustrated decals, it was these that made me think of working together.
I approached her one day years later with the proposal of a collaboration. She said yes! I was delighted and I started thinking about what I would like to draw for the decals for her to add to the ceramics.
I had been wanting to create a Glasgow Subway inspired work for a while and this was the perfect chance. So, I started snooping around the stations and drawing.
Soon I had created lots and lots of little black and white drawings that captured the underground. I chose to fill the billboards with little adverts for venues around particular stations. I then rustle up a 3D sketch of what I imagined the pieces could start looking like and went off for a development meeting with Claire at her studio.
It was at this meeting we decided to work with orange and black decals. Claire had been developing the ceramic shapes and clays. She chose white porcelain stoneware, once glazed, this gave an amazing orange speckled effect thanks to some jazzy iron. This matched the orange and feel of the Subway, perfect.
Claire took over at this stage and started throwing these amazing carafes and tumblers. These where then bisque fired, glazed and then I went to visit again to sign and date the pieces.
The next visit a week later was to add all the decals, each one completely differently, making each place unique and extra special.
Last stage was to put them into Jeff for a final firing. We where so chuffed with the outcome that we threw a party! They sold out in 3 hours and we both might have been seen doing a happy dance.
We are now making more, a second small batch. If you would like yours in time for Christmas, PRE-ORDER yours now.
