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Richard Phethean
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A ceramics graduate of the Camberwell School
of Arts and Crafts, and further trained in the studio's of tutors Colin
Pearson and Janice Tchalenko, Richard is an established professional potter
whose work has been exhibited throughout the UK and can be found in collections
internationally. He is a Fellow of the Craft Potters Association,
and is on the Crafts Council of Great Britain's Index of Selected Makers.
Following an interest in early English slipware,
Richard began an ongoing exploration of the medium. Using traditional
slip-trailing and sgrafitto techniques, he spent two years developing ranges
of honey and clear glazed tableware. However, preoccupied with achieving
greater depth and texture of surface, a more personal style began to evolve.
He brushed as opposed to dipping base colours on the terra cotta,
building up layers of thin slip washes. Using paper resist and sponge-printed
motifs, the decoration became geometric and analytical, the forms concave
and stylised.
Two years spent working as a volunteer on a crafts project
in the Papua New Guinea highlands 1985-87 had an overwhelming impact, both
emotionally and politically. This led to a radical reappraisal of his work
as a craftsman, and marked a return to classical vessel forms. A looser
decorative style was accompanied by a sombre palette, and a matt clear glaze. |
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In the mid nineties saw a move back to the
essential spontaneity and warmth of domestic earthenware
pottery. Slip brushwork became less formal, and Richard returned
to the use of glossy glazes. In 2001 Richard was offered a
position as Resident Potter in an independent Quaker school, where he was
given the task of laying out and equipping a modern ceramics facility in a new
building. The situation provided an good opportunity to take a new direction
altogether, taking a long term break from domestic pottery production in order
to follow a much more sculptural path with his work .
Richard's broad pottery teaching experience spans thirty
eight years. He was a
visiting member of staff on the
Harrow degree course for twelve years, six as a module leader, in throwing,
until its closure in 2010, and his speciality as a
throwing tutor has attracted
potters around the world for intensive training in his own studio.
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Selected shows
Solo
Anderson Gallery,1998-Bettles Gallery, 2000- Contemporary Ceramics,2001- Bettles
Gallery 2004al
Mixed
Alpha
House Gallery, Amalgam, Anderson Gallery,
Beatrice
Royal Gallery,
Black Swan Guild, Bluecoat
Display Centre,
Bettles
Gallery, Clode Gallery, Collection Gallery, Contemporary Ceramics,
Devon
Guild of Craftsmen, Gallerie Le Don du Fel
Hugo Barclay, Ladygate Gallery, Leicester City Gallery,
Mid-Cornwall
Galleries, New Ashgate Galleries, Open
Eye Gallery, Oriel 31, Paddon
and Paddon, Plymouth Arts Centre,
Porticus,
Rufford
Craft Centre, Ruthin Craft Centre, Rye
Art Gallery, Sanderson George and Peach, Terrace Gallery,
Tolquhon
Gallery, Walford Mill,
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Zwimmer Stewart Gallery.
Ceramic Fairs
Ceramic Art London 2005/2006/2007/2008/2009/2011 and a
regular exhibitor at Oxford Ceramics Fair and Ceramics in
the City Retail Outlets
Contemporary Ceramics, Great Russell St,
London, St. Ives Ceramics, Cornwall,
and various occasional galleries nationwide.
Mail order - Please visit the
gallery to view pots, and the
mail order page to find out more details.
Publications
'The Complete Potter ~ Throwing'
Series Editor Emmanuel Cooper (Batsford - ISBN 07134 66480)
'The Complete Practical Potter' By Josie
Warshaw - Throwing chapter by RP (Anness Publishing - ISBN 07548
01950) *NEW* to be released in August 2012, 'The
New Ceramics -Throwing' published by A&CBlack ISBN 9781-1-4081-3955-1
Seminars
and Workshops
Throwing and Slipware, La Meridiana 2010,2011,
2012
Northern Potters Weekend
Scottish Potters Weekend
Potterycrafts
Museum of Mankind (Pottery in the Making)
East Anglian Potters
1999 Ceramics Symposium - Tel Hai, Israel
South Wales Potter's 40th Anniversary Weekend |
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Chronology
2012 ' The
New Ceramics-Throwing' published by A&C Black launched in August
2010
Elected to serve on the council of the Craft Potter's Association,
commissioned to write a book on throwing technique as part of a new
series for A&C Black 2007
Produced commission piece for West Oxfordshire District Cultural
Services entitled 'Strata', inspired by William Smith, known as the
father of British Geology
2001 Took
up 'Resident Potter' post at Sibford School, Oxfordshire
1999
Moved home and studio to The Leadenporch House, Deddington, U.K.
Established Phethean Studio Pottery Centre
1998
Commissioned to write 'Throwing' chapter for new book - 'Complete Practical
Potter' by Anness Publishing
1994
Moved home and studio to Peckham, London SE15
Established Phethean School of Studio Pottery
1993
'Complete Potter - Throwing' published by Batsford books and release of
self-produced video cassette - 'An Introduction to Throwing'
1992
SELECTED MAKER - Crafts Council Index
1988
Studio re-established in garden of new home - Herne Hill, London SE24
1990
SELECTED - Fellow Craft Potters Association
1985-87
VSO posting to Papua New Guinea as Business Development Officer at Eastern
Highlands Cultural Centre - a crafts training project with pottery and
textiles workshops, museum and shop.
1978
Established studio at 4011/12 workshops, London SW8
1977-78 Assistant
and production thrower at Colin Pearson's studio - Aylesford, Kent. U.K.
1975-79 Occasional
studio assistant to Janice Tchalenko
1977
Art Teacher's Diploma, Goldsmiths College, U.K.
1976
Ceramics Degree Show - Camberwell School of Art and Crafts, U.K.
1968
Visited Scott Marshall's pottery, St. Just, Cornwall - resolved to become
a potter
1953
Born in South East London
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