Wendy Hayden Ceramics

I studied Fine Art and sculpture at Portsmouth in the 1980’s which led to an enduring fascination with the endless possibilities of working with clay. I have had a long career in teaching the arts, working in schools and colleges in London and the Isle of Wight. Throughout this time, I have continued my own art practice and have had a number of exhibitions in the South of England, mainly featuring two dimensional work.

Following my retirement from education, I have returned to working primarily with ceramics. Taking inspiration from observation of the natural world, I enjoy exploring the abstract qualities of form, surface and colour. Most of my work is hand built- the repetitive and rhythmic process of coil building, allowing each form to emerge in a unique and organic way. Recently, I have used a chemical process that enables the clay to be stretched and split, creating unique fracture patterns and fissures, sometimes ‘repaired’ using other materials, echoing the effects of erosive forces in the environment and the scars of human intervention.