CAREER SHIFT
Grains of sand caught in the crevices of rocks worn smooth by the relentless caress of waves; lichen creeping out of inky-blue rock pools; sea foam settling on barnacle-encrusted driftwood; the richly veined granite coastal cliffs of northwest Scotland. These are some of the textures that have inspired Vicky Ware’s rustic tableware for some time. Yet such elemental seascapes are a far cry from the idyllic, undulating countryside that surrounds her secluded hilltop studio at her home in Powys.
Enjoying stunning panoramic views over the Trannon Valley and the Cambrian mountains, Vicky’s studio, a ‘shed within a shed’, is in a contrasting, yet equally inspiring location. The surrounding woodland is starting to put on its autumnal cloak of russet, bronze and gold, and the earthenware bread pots and mugs drying on slatted wooden shelves mimic the fiery hues of the leafy canopy outside. ‘The studio is airy, spacious and inspirational, converted, where possible, from repurposed materials. We’ve used old patio doors from our neighbours for the windows. My shop is adjacent to this space, so visitors can browse and chat to me at the same time,’ says Vicky.
Her work is the culmination of 30 years of ‘trial and error’, starting in an evening class when her children were tiny, as a hobby, and then slotted in, when time permitted, around her full-time job in accounts. ‘For years my studio was in the garage or kitchen of our various homes, but it has only been in the last 15 years that I have been able to focus on the pottery full-time. The only way to progress is by experimentation, and I’ve produced the most inspired work in the last five years, since I’ve had more time to devote to it,’ Vicky explains.
Self-taught, learning and picking up tips and skills from other potters along the way, she loves ‘grabbing a piece of clay and making something useful with it.From the start, it’s been all about the texture and tactile nature of it for me. The items I make are functional and not perfect; but it is the imperfections that enhance them,’ she explains.
