Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen. - Epictetus Education Estover Community College 1999 - 2004 Plymouth College of Further Education 2006 - 07 3D Design; Designer Maker - University of Plymouth 2008 - About me Born in November 1986 in Dublin, moved with family to the UK in early 1987 and settled in Devon in 1998. When I'm out I never like to be without my camera. I am always looking for interesting things to snap a shot of for inspiration. I am especially inspired by the natural world and am lucky to be surrounded by just that in Devon and Cornwall. Due to illness I was out of education for a short time, it is because of this I have only started to build a portfolio recently, and as I am currently on a degree course most of the work I have done so far has fitted into various projects. While each of these projects have been variously inspirational, they have not necessarily produced work that I consider close to where I want to be, though I have still included the best on this site and hope to further develop my portfolio soon. In particular I hope to add more to the sculptural side of my work which I have been neglecting while on a design course. About the work I have always been enamoured with the tactile qualities of clay, the juxtaposition of its raw state through the intermediate stage of bisque firing to its final glazed surface fascinates me. Unfired I find its innate malleability endlessly enjoyable, especially the entirely hands on approach of wheel thrown work. In using glazes, again I love to explore the variety of textures they can produce and the contrast that can be created between them. I have used alternatives to glaze as a finish to ceramic, namely sawdust firing. I like this technique for the earthy look the carbon gives to the pots and hope to experiment with further kinds of alternative firing methods. While I have great memories of working with clay from when I was young, I have only recently begun working in glass. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time but have just had the opportunity and facilities to do so. As it is such a new medium to me I am continuing to work with it as much as I am able to discover its various capabilities in the kiln that I have access to. As with clay, I draw inspiration for my glass work from nature, particularly using the translucent qualities that are innate to glass to mimic the great variety of light in the natural world. That said, some of my earliest glass work looks simply at simple colour combination and its reflective and refractive abilities.