ABOUT TRICIA
The journey really began from childhood with a love of nature, the sea and the outdoors and a love of collecting china ornaments of animals; working with the local vet in school holidays and on weekends.
In Tricias words: "I wanted to become a vet; loving the wildlife, the seaside, the sea creatures and nature; scuba diving as a young teenager; studying zoology and animal behaviour and marine biology at university. These were the experiences and inspiration behind the pottery of the last 30 years...
After getting married, my husband Michael and I lived in Kenya. We spent time with the elephants in an orphanage just outside Nairobi; went on safaris to watch lions and all kinds of other animals. Observing the movements of many many animals in the wild and in captivity, in the sea, while diving and swimming with whales and dolphins, manta rays and all kinds of fish, their form and movement became familiar.
All of this is my deep joy, being in connection with animals and people and working with my hands in expression through the medium of clay.
Feeling the clay moving and moulding and simply being at one with it, is a major part of making pottery and I have found this to be a great support at different times in my life.
Simply being with the clay stops all the mind’s chatter and instead allows a connection with oneself and the body – a clarity and simplicity is experienced in that. The realisation of this, as I look back, is very honouring to feel, as is the growing delicacy of my hands with the clay over the years.
Coming together at college each week with adults from all walks of life and mostly in their later years offers a great support and purpose that everyone enjoys. Developing different techniques, the fun of trying out new glazes and all the different types of pottery, and what happens when the glazing is complete and the surprise of how the pottery figure, animal or bowl or anything comes out of the kiln with its colour and patterns, light and dark - it is an adventure we all cherish.
What fun it is whenever someone finishes a piece!"
Tricia is a mother of two adult children; both of whom now run very successful business. Tricia herself, together with Michael, is running the farm they have lovingly renovated after having purchased it many years ago in a totally dilapidated state, which now shines in its full glory; as well as building houses in England and overseas for people to visit and enjoy. Over time Tricia has created pottery specially for each location.