Juliet Collins

I grew up in East London and studied ceramics for 4 years at Medway College of Design in Kent. As a child I used to create little animals from various materials including plasticene, sweet wrapper foils, wax from around those Baby Bell cheeses or anything else I could find so it's always been in me to sculpt. My subject matter has almost always been animals, somethimg I have always been passionate about, but in recent times I have branched out a little into human forms and revisiting my throwing practice on the wheel. I discovered the clay I mostly use, 'crank',  whilst at college. It's a lovely coarse clay and I have developed my own matt glazes to compliment the stone like texture. Having use of a raku kiln on occasion over the last couple of years has made me experiment more with different ways of contructing creatures and glazing which has been great fun. I have also dabbled with painting again over the last few years so I'm hoping to maybe pursue this more in the future. 

Most of my animals are one offs but I do have a few 'ranges' of more affordable items that I sell at fairs and in shops on and off the Island and I have also been using recycled glass for a few years now. The bright and shiny surface complements my lovely textured clay and muted natural glazes.

My studio is a reception room in my house which has it's own door to the side which was a lucky find for me. It has enabled me to have Open Studios here for the last 16 years and also have a dedicated space where I can teach and run workshops.  In addition to teaching regular classes from my studio I also teach at Jubilee Stores (Quay Arts)

I am a member of  The Wildlife Art Society International (TWASI) and exhibit at their annual show every year.  I normally exhibit at least once a year at Quarr Abbey with Angela Sowden who is sharing my Open Studio as well as other venues around the Island. I have a pitch every year in the art tent at Wolverton Manor Garden Fair and Dimbola Christmas Art and Craft Fair.