Peter Beard

I first encountered clay when I was a small child, and whilst studying for my degree in industrial design and furniture design at Ravensbourne College of Art in London (1970-1973) was able to spend time in the ceramics department. On finishing college I helped set up a pottery in Scotland making thrown domestic stoneware. I opened my first studio in Kent in 1975, making mainly sculptural pieces. My current studio is in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

I make thrown and hand-built pieces in oxidised stoneware fired to 1280°C, using combinations of matt and semi-matt glazes and coloured clays, built up in layers prior to firing to create textural surfaces in a range of pastel shades and some stronger colours. Some surfaces are ground back to reveal the intricate patterns within the structure. Wax resist is used extensively to create patterns and to isolate the glaze layers during application. I also work in bronze and some stone, in addition to ceramics.

I have exhibited regularly in group exhibitions and one-man shows since 1975 in Britain and abroad.