Pat Southwood graduated from Ruskin College Cambridge in 1999 with a First Class Honours Degree in Ceramics.
She established her first workshop in Salhouse, Norfolk and following exposure via The Craft Potters Associations "Setting Out" scheme her work was exhibited in the C.P.A Gallery and at Earth & Fire.
Pat's work is based on observations of the farmland surrounding her, natural forms and the effects of man on the landscape. Ceramic form is of the first importance with surface and pattern a close second.
Her intention is to simplify and extract the essence of the landscape so as to be able to render it as a linear sense of pattern.
Some pots are thrown on the wheel, some hand built; all are fired in an electric kiln at 1260 degrees.
Ten years Post-Graduate study of Japanese Wood Fired Ceramics has had a major influence on her work.
In 1999 Pat took the opportunity to travel to Mashiko in Japan, to study with Hamada Tomo - the Grandson of the great Shoji Hamada. Further visits, workshops and exhibitions in 2004, 2007 and 2008 led to selection in 2009 as the U.K. representative at a six week residency in Tokoname, one of the ancient pottery towns of Japan.
Selected Exhibitions
I.W.C.A.T Tokoname, Japan
Gallery Kiku, Osaka, Japan
Gallery, I.S.S.H. Tokyo, Japan
The Workshop Gallery, Corpusty, Norfolk
Ceramics in the City, The Gefrye Museum, London
Hobart Gallery, Blickling Hall, Norfolk
B.S.A.D. The Mall Galleries. London
Battersea Town Hall, London
Setting Out, Contemporary Ceramics, London