Meet The Maker – Debbie Barber

Debbie Barber – Ceramicist

Debbie first trained as a textile artist, specialising in embroidery and surface decoration. After 10 years she returned to college to retrain as a potter having a life-long interest in ceramics. Now Debbie combines her love of colour, texture and pattern that she used in her textiles with her new medium, clay. Debbie specializes in naked Raku and sawdust firing enjoying the hands on and dynamic process of Raku firing.  Using resists she uses smoke to ‘paint’ patterns on the surface of the clay.

 

Heart – Debbie Barber

Raku is a fast firing technique that originated in Japan in the 16^th Century and was associated with the making and firing of small bowls for use in the Tea Cermony. In the modern version vessels are removed hot from the kiln and smoked in sawdust before cooling in air or water.

Collection of raku birdies – Debbie Barber

Due to the individual nature of the technique, no two pots are the same; they are unique and have their own beauty. The finished pieces are burnished and polished to give them a soft satin sheen.

Close up

Debbie takes inspiration from the natural world, birds, trees and leaves for example. Her forms are simple, strong shapes and she uses surface pattern to introduce complexity and interest.

Heart – Debbie Barber

Debbie has been nominated twice for the prestigious City & Guilds Gold Medal for Excellence for her ceramics. Highly commended in 2007 and winning the Gold Medal in 2009. Only one medal is awarded in each discipline every year.

Meet The Maker – Jodie Hook

Jodie hook – Jeweller

Allegra silver hair clip

Silver Ribbon Knot Bracelet

Ribbon Loop Silver Ring

Ribbon Knot Silver Bangle

Meet the Maker – Jo Butcher

Jo Butcher – Textile Artist

Jo is an embroidery artist, creating intricately stitched artworks inspired by classic British country gardens and the rural simplicity of wild flower meadows.

Field of Daisies – hand embroidery

Impassioned by a love of the British countryside and vintage textiles embellished by her grandmother’s generation, Jo’s aim is to create heirlooms for the future by capturing the essence of these influences in her own work.  

Heart Rose Bush – hand embroidery

With a background in fashion design, Jo began by recalling stitches learnt at school and teaching herself new ones that she combined to develop her own style.

Tree – hand embroidery

From her home in Somerset, she now produces delicate embroideries both by hand and machine onto hand-painted backgrounds and linens.

Rose Heart – hand embroidery

Using tonal layering of threads and a range of embroidery stitches Jo creates a unique perspective from ‘a rabbit’s eye view’ of English meadows.

Forget Me Not Heart – hand embroidery

In 2011, Country Living magazine awarded Jo ‘Best Craftsperson’ in their Kitchen Table Talent Awards.  Emma Bridgewater, competition judge, declared “Jo’s work demonstrates real vision”.

Bush – hand embroidery

When we first saw Jo’s work at BCTF this year we were blown away by how intricate it was and are so proud to now be showcasing a selection of her hand embroideries to show you.

Heart – hand embroidery

Meet The Maker – Kim Hodgson

Kim Hodgson – Ceramicist

Ever since Kim was a child she has always loved the outdoors and all of its natural beauty. Most of her school holidays were spent in the countryside visiting her Granny. Kim’s older sister and her were lucky enough to be given their own pony, Turpin, who they both loved dearly but as they grew older Kim’s sisters changed therefore leaving Kim with Turpin to explore the great outdoors together with her Auntie teaching her as they went!

Selection of Kim’s ceramics

Turpin sadly passed away Feb 2012 at the grand age of 33 so what better way to thank her faithful friend but to tufn him and the wildlife they saw on their travels into pieces of art for the rest of the world do enjoy!

Selection of Kim’s ceramics

Kim’s ceramics are made from slip cast porcelain and then her own designed decals are transferred on. The most famous image is the pink owl which is now her logo.

Selection of Kim’s ceramics

Her work is designed to bring a small amount of the country into people’s homes and hopefully make people smile from its quirky qualities.

Selection of Kim’s ceramics

Selection of Kim’s ceramics

Meet The Maker – Cathy Sutherland

Cathy Sutherland – Jeweller

Cathy draws inspiration from all things earthy and organic being intrigued by delicate insects, fragile skeleton leaves and human skin; as when studier closer you see that all are made up of intricate networks of lines and detailed patterns that create incredible natural surface decoration, which is reflected in her jewellery.

Chasing and repousse

Chasing and repousse

In this collection for our Wedding Exhibition ‘I DO’, the elegant and feminine forms have been created in silver through the traditional silversmithing techniques of chasing and repoussé where repetitive hammering allows Cathy to capture the flowing textures and patterns of nature that she loves.

Silver Hairpin

Silver necklace with pearl

Silver hairpiece with tiny fresh water pearls

Silver hairpiece worn

Cathy aims to make contemporary jewellery that sparks the sense of touch with intrigue, the depth of texture creating surfaces that are uneven yet smooth, inviting you to trace the patterns of the metal.

Silver tiara

Silver tiara worn

We are proud to have Cathy’s fabulous selection of pieces to showcase her new work for our Wedding Exhibition ‘I DO’.

Silver pearly necklace

Meet The Maker – Jane Booth

Jane Booth – Ceramicist

Jane thinks the small pleasures of life should be treasured; don’t we all? For her one aspect of this involves using everyday items that are made in mouthwatering colours that make her smile – such as her pink ‘bejewelled’ Russian doll keyring and her purple leather satchel. For this reason she makes pots suitable for everyday use that are practical, pretty and unique.

Jane’s ceramic mugs

All Jane’s pottery is thrown on a wheel and then decorated with coloured slips, a transparent glaze and ceramic transfers. She uses terracotta clay, as she likes the warmth and richness of the colour and the effect that is created when the clay breaks through the softly coloured slips.

Jane’s ceramic mugs

Jane is inspired by the colours and patterns of some of her favourite things – vintage fabric and china; paintings (particularly from the eighteenth century); illustrated children’s literature; ice cream and macaroons!

 

Jane’s ceramic bowls

We love Jane’s work at Heart Gallery and know that you will too.

Jane’s ceramic mugs and jugs

Meet The Maker – Jodie Hook

Jodie Hook – Jeweller

Jodie’s passion for jewellery making started when she was a young girl. At age 17 her art teacher offered her the chance to do jewellery as a GCSE, it was there that her affection with the craft of jewellery developed.

Ribbon Loop Ring – Silver

After studying a degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing at the School of Jewellery in Birmingham she moved to London to pursue her dreams. It was here that she spent 7 years working for fashion jewellery designer Scott Wilson. Here she created collections for trade shows including London Fashion Week and one off commission pieces for major fashion houses and celebrities including Pringle, Swarovski, Robbie Williams and Kylie.

Ribbon Knot silver bangle

Jodie then returned to Cardiff and in 2008 set up her own business.  2009 saw her establishing herself within galleries and shops throughout the UK with her Ribbon Collection and most recently the Equilateral Collection. The talented designer has more than 15 years experience designing and making individual handmade jewellery.

Large silver Ribbon Knot bangle

In September 2009 Jodie was thrilled to be awarded the Lonmin Design Innovation Award in the established designer category for her Rollercoaster Earrings in platinum. Most recently she has created her Ultimate Stainless Tie as part of an Association of Contemporary Jewellery Exhibition, STAIN-LESS, in celebration of this year’s centenary of the discovery of Stainless Steel.

 

Silver Ribbon Knot studs

The Ribbon Collection is her signature range and is an on-going love affair, inspired from the moment you unravel a roll of satin ribbon, it twists and loops, as you lift it a knot forms. She manipulates the metal creating a light wearable adornment that looks beautiful from every angle. Since its conception new and complimentary designs and finishes have been included to this best-selling range.

Silver Ribbon Knot tied necklace

In 2010 it expanded into her Wedding Collection with hair slides, bands and grips made in a fine gauge of silver combined with beautiful Swarovski crystal beads and pearls to create striking yet delicate pieces that can be worn all day for a special occasion. For the Heart Gallery Exhibition ‘I DO’ she has carefully selected the range to include a few pieces created exclusively for the Show.

Allegra – silver and crystal hair comb

“Ultimately I seek to create wearable jewellery that makes a statement on and off the body.”

Meet The Maker – Ellie Ingram

Ellie Ingram – Jeweller

When I first met Ellie this April at BCTF she was the one jeweller that stood out for me as her work was whimsical and different … no concave or convex studs on her stand!

Dream Cloud silver necklace

Ellie was showcasing three exclusive collections, taking you on a captivating journey through fairytales, bohemia, miniatures and music and Heart Gallery now has two of those collections in … we are saving the MUSIC collection for Christmas!

Toast silver necklace – Spread The Love

Every piece is designed from scratch by Ellie and then handmade with intricate attention to detail using traditional silver-smithing techniques.

Love house silver ring

Intimate and uplifting designs echo Ellie’s life passions, everything from toast to techno inspires her whimsical, beautifully crafted jewellery.

Don’t Worry Be Happy silver ring

Taking inspiration from everywhere she goes, through her jewellery she tells a story and hopefully becomes a part of yours too. 

Little Fluffy Clouds silver stacking rings

Betsy silver necklace with carrot!

Heart loves Ellie’s work but we are suckers for the whimsical after all!

Toast silver bracelet – Spread The Love

Meet The Maker – Stephanie Earl

Stephanie Earl – Ceramicist

Quite simply, Stephanie translates the delicacy and intricacy of antique and vintage lace into porcelain and glass. Porcelain seems to have its own will; it often changes shape, cracks or warps on firing and that, for Stephanie,  makes it an exciting medium to work in. 

Butterfly wall plaque

Rather than becoming frustrated with the unforgiving nature of porcelain, she works with it, enjoying the unique direction that each piece takes her in. Working in clay is meditative and Stephanie often finds herself moving away from her intended design and creating just by feel, following how the clay seems to want to move and finishing where there seems to be a natural end. 

Lace jugs

The longer that Stephanie has worked in porcelain the more she has become separated from the idea of perfection. For her, perfection is repeatable, factory – made. Straight lines, perfect edges and symmetry are rarely found in anything she makes. For Stephanie there is a complete beauty, a sense of the fallible human, the history of a person in imperfection. 

Lace dish

 The inherent flaw in one of Stephanie’s pieces is the beginning of its story, the start of its history and is the thing that unwittingly draws the eye and makes it truly unique.

Butterfly wall plaque close up

 

 

 

Meet The Maker – Louise Taylor

Louise Taylor – Textile Artist

Louise is a printed textile designer based in Lancashire, with a First Class Honours Degree in Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design from Leeds College of Art. Louise primarily designs prints for fashion and has recently founded her own design label specialising in silk printed scarves.

Blue Floral long scarf – Louise Taylor

The romantic, feminine and delicate printed silk scarf collection has been taken from Louise’s original hand paintings and drawings, inspired by vintage flora. Each print on the scarves has been derived from delicate watercolour paintings and intricate drawings of beautiful botanicals. It is important to Louise that the collection has been derived from hand done work, making each design unique.

Rosa Classica Golden square scarf

Inspiration comes from: Nature, botanical gardens, traditional textile patterns and classic botanical illustration, along with fashion trends.

Scarf detail

Traditional drawing and painting techniques are to start with, such as; watercolours, pen, ink, mono-print, pencil. The original artworks are manipulated and adapted further on the computer using CAD; developing the paintings and drawings by adding colours, layering, and combining design elements, which then are ready to make in to print designs and patterns.

Louise Taylor square scarf

They are digitally printed on to silks in the uk, using modern printing technology that is more ecological than traditional printing techniques. It enables the original painted detail and the drawn elements to be captured, giving the designs individuality and enables a way to combine the prints and artworks with fashion.

Rosa Classica scarf detail

The finished scarves are beautiful artworks in there own right; they are precious pieces designed to be savoured and Heart Gallery adores them so hope you do too.

Rosa Classica peach square