Artist Bio
Sylvia Dales trained at Harrow School of Art in the 1970’s with Wally Keeler and Mick Casson, and has also worked as a repetition thrower for David Leach in his Bovey Tracey pottery in Devon during the summer vacations. Over the years she has worked with salt glaze and wood firing potters in Wales, America and Scotland, and has built kilns in my her homes fired with wood, propane, or natural gas.
The feel and versatility of clay has absorbed Sylvia’s interest for many years. Always searching for colour, texture and richness, she works on the wheel, but also often alters the forms into different shapes. Mostly her pots are for everyday use – mugs, jugs, bowls, vases, but has recently enjoyed making one off pieces, that are not necessarily functional. She has always made high fired reduced stoneware but having recently moved to Northern Ireland, she intends to explore the world of earthenware, oxidised firings and possibly exploring smoke firing as well.
Sylvia’s work was exhibited alongside a major exhibition of Caravaggio paintings in London, as The National Gallery felt her work complemented some of the pots in his paintings. Sylvia has enjoyed being a member of The Craft Potters’ Association (CPA), The Suffolk Craft Society and alsoThe East Anglian Potters Association.
