Maker's Lunch - PENNY FOWLER - April 2018

This was a fully booked lunch event which gave us all the opportunity to explore the elegance, precision and effective use of colour in Penny Fowler's porcelain and bone china pieces. Penny was last at Bevere when we held the CPA at 50 show which feels a long way back now.

Influenced by her sculptor grandfather, she developed turned thrown pieces originally, but became more and more interested in developing fine, precise pots that would show her carving to best effect. When she decided to make moulds and cast her pieces it was that point at which the voice we now recognise as distinctly hers, began to emerge.

All of us were particularly impressed with the structure of her small pieces and the apparent simplicity of her decorative design which belies the subtlety of her undoubted design skills. Penny sees herself as a City potter  - having lived and worked in London for may years – and her work reflects her interest in architecture, design and the world around her.  It was evident from the detailed processes she described that even the smallest of pieces could take several hours to complete. We can so often underestimate how long it takes to make high quality studio ceramics.

Over an excellent lunch we discussed a range of questions about Penny's work and the wider ceramic market. All round a very satisfying event and thank you to Penny for coming up from London for the day.

Stuart Dickens

8 April 2018

Next MAKER'S LUNCH -   SATURDAY 5th MAY with  MARK DALLY