Artists
Mary Matthews
After learning a love and respect for three-dimensional art at school, in South Africa, I continued my training in fine arts at University, although the B.A. Degree I took was not in Fine Arts. After gaining my degree, I came to Britain, where I used a year at Wimbledon College of Arts as a jumping- off point to gain a place in the Diploma Course for Theatrical Design at Central College of Art in Holborn…..My porcelain figures are mostly fights of fancy harking back to this original training!
Although I continued through the years of being a mother and wife, to do sporadic work with clay when I could make the time; it was not until after the death of my husband in 1994 that I started to work with more dedication. I returned to Llandrillo College for a couple of years as a “refresher”; and I am now settled in a home where there is the space for a studio and Kiln, and I can work reasonably steadily.
I work mainly in Stoneware clays ( suitable for standing outside in all weathers) preferring the colours of the various clays, and the effects of different firings and added oxides, to give added colour and decoration to the work.
All the work is hand built. It is mainly figurative and representative. Fantasy figures – (dragons, wizards etc.) are based on a knowledge of figure and animal, and I draw my inspiration for decorations from plants and nature.
My interest is really in the movement that can be represented in figures, so the small figures, and porcelain figures tend to be in action. Large figures and sculptures for the garden seem to be more still or contemplative ( a contrast to the movement in water or a garden!)
I love the challenge of personal commissions!
