MY STORY
Choosing to go to art college was a very clear choice, having loved art at school, along with biology and sport. I first touched clay, on my foundation course and became interested in working three dimensionally. So I set off for a degree course, in 3d design, but left after the first year. Five years later I found a part time ceramics course at City Lit , a 2 day a week diploma, which was fantastic and got me back on track. From there, I went on to complete a degree in ceramics at Camberwell College of Art, graduating in 1998.
Catherine set up a studio with five others, in The Arches in Peckham, south London and began to make and show her work. She worked for many other artists during this time, learning new techniques and practices, among them: Oriel Harwood and Anthony Gormley. She also trained as an art teacher in 2002 , with a PGCE in secondary art teaching , she then taught for 15 years along side continuing with her own work. She is now a full time artist focused on her own career.
I had an interest in anatomy and how the body works and had regularly practised life drawing, even before my foundation course. This developed further during my time at Camberwell, where I built a figure for the first time. I started focusing on the female form. Played with proportions: making big exaggerated feet and extended the legs. This created tall elegant forms but with a sense of power.
Catherine 's work celebrates the human form, but there is also a strong narrative about journey and looking for direction. The large feet with power and strength and the binoculars peering into the distance, looking, learning, questioning , focusing and searching.
Her sculptures vary in size, from small shelf sitters to larger tall standing figures. They are all hand build out of crank clay and fired high with stoneware glazes. Usually with earthy coloured glazes like: the rusty sparkly lithium (SR), the feet are often decorated with red decals. Her work sells through galleries, art fairs, open studios and on line.
Current stockist and Galleries
Art Dog London
23 Brockley rise.
London SE23.
07093 194 591
artdoglondon.co.uk
Byard Art Gallery.
14 Kings Parade
Cambridge
01223 464646
Byardart.co.uk
West End House Gallery.
Ashford.
01233 770261
westendhousegallery.co.uk
Two Kats and a Cow.
167 Kings Rd Arches.
Brighton
01273 776 746
Twokatsandacowgallery.co.uk
Henry Paddon Art Gallery
113 South Street
Eastbourne
01323 411887
Henrypaddon.com