About Sage Ceramics
“I first fell in love with ceramics in 2006 whilst living in Perth, Western Australia, where I attended a course called A Year in Clay, at Fremantle Arts Centre. Fremantle was a vibrant and creative place to discover a new artistic passion and to be inspired both by the coastline and the swathes of State Forest further inland.
When I returned to the UK, my newfound passion came with me, and I now work from my home studio in the pretty village of Storrington, tucked under the South Downs.
Using predominantly stoneware and earthenware clays, my work is mainly wheel thrown, but I do occasionally create hand-built pieces or a combination of both. Once I’m happy with the shape and form of a piece of pottery, I then decorate it with either coloured underglazes, or stoneware glazes; frequently leaving areas unglazed to add to the tactile quality of the piece.
My inspiration – much as it did in Fremantle – comes from the natural world around me. Everything becomes a source of ideas – for example, an old photo of my mother’s patterned dinner service from her life in India becomes a new design, as does a bumblebee in the garden or a walk along the beach. Happily, there’s no end to the things that might inspire a new piece or collection.
The process of creating ceramics fascinates me – experimenting with new shapes, forms, and styles in my studio, I can be absorbed for hours. Ceramics teaches you to be mindful, to pay attention, and to observe details; being aware of the different nuances of the clay you are working with. There are always new elements to discover and I am constantly learning and developing my craft.”