Sheila Herring’s work is visceral and impassioned, combining a kind of abstract expressionism with subtle and robust functional shapes.
Exploring expressive techniques of working with the clay is
a vital aspect of Sheila’s pot making. She seeks out and employs processes that
have elements of the unpredictable, irregular and enlivened about them. The
surface decoration emphasises the freedom of the clay work, often involving the
movement of various thicknesses of slips over the clay, traces of the
application processes revealed. Slips also build up defining lines, as can the
glazes used.
Free pencil line drawings and gestural sgraffito marks are
informed from Sheila’s spontaneous drawings. Sometimes there are suggestions of
flowers, at others the repetition of freely drawn patterns. Her functional pots
are made from black earthenware clay.
CV
Born 1959, Norfolk.
1982 to 1987 Evening and
day classes in London including class tutored by Ian Godfrey at Montem Pottery
Hornsey.
1990/92 Monkton Wyld, Dorset. Jointly tutored Raku weekend workshops.
Constructed a wood fired Raku kiln using it for the courses. Also facilitated
sawdust firings and made functional ware for use in the community kitchen.
1990 to 2003 Self employed basket maker, using home grown and Somerset
Willow.Baskets sold through shows and galleries. Taught basket making and
willow work.
1994 Awarded a grant from South West Arts and Elmhurst Trust to study
with basket maker Joe Hogan in Ireland.
2003 to 2005. Part time Art Foundation course at Hereford College of Art
and Design. Focused on clay throughout this course, culmilating
in impressed, monoprinted, moulded sculptural forms with smoked terrasigalata
glaze surfaces displayed in final show.
2005 to 2009 Self employed construction worker specialising in
ecological building (followed on from our own self build timber and straw bale
house).
2007 to 2009 Started evening classes with Patia Davis (earthenware), a
year later also with Jeremy Steward (stoneware) Wobage, Upton Bishop,
Herefordshire.
2008 Summer courses at Wobage, Upton Bishop, Herefordshire. Attended 3
courses working in stoneware and porcelain.
2009 Whichford pottery, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire. Woodfiring workshop
weekend.
2009 Received first award allocated from Adopt a Potter Trust.
Commenced apprenticeship with Jeremy Steward at Wobage workshops,
Upton Bishop, Herefordshire. Continued working for Jeremy until the end of
2011.
2012 Started working independently as a self employed potter.
