Please can you give me an introduction about yourself

I’m Rebecca. I am a part-time potter and stained glass artist who is working and living in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. I moved back from Australia a year ago after 5 years in Oz. I am originally from Lancashire. I have been a teacher for over 10 years and am currently an Educational Advisor.

What inspired you to do pottery/stained glass?

A few years ago, I had a few health problems and I decided that I would try lots of different arts and crafts as I had always loved being arty but motherhood and my career had got in the way. I tried lots of workshops and fell in love instantly with stained glass and pottery. I love the creations that can be made with glass and the colours that are produced. I love the connection that you get from clay. It really is therapeutic as well as so creative.

Describe your creative process; from start to finish of a painting. Where do you find your inspiration?

I start with a sketchbook, since I went on ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’ I never start a new creation without the intention and that means sketching an idea out and thinking through the process before touching the materials.

For ceramics it is important to get the clay ready, so it might be too wet or need wedging if it has been reclaimed. Then depending on whether I am wheel throwing or hand building I will weigh out the right amount of clay and start. Hand-building is such a cathartic experience for me and allows me time to think and process thoughts, memories and is such a special experience. On the other hand wheel throwing is a real disicpine for me. I can not think about anything else whilst I am on the wheel, centring and pulling the clay up and making the shapes you want. After the creation looks exactly how it should then it needs time to dry. This process can take a while (weeks even) with the British weather then it goes in to the kiln and hits 950c and then once it has cooled it will be decorated with glazes to add designs and colours. Then it goes back in the kiln for its final firing where it will hit 1240c. The whole process is slow and patience is the key!

With stained glass the process still has many steps but it is not as lengthy as there are no kilns involved. I design the make. I will then find the right colours and cut the glass to the desired shapes. I use a technique called copper lighting so instead of lead I use copper and solder to bind the glass together to make beautiful designs. A lot of my designs hang and some are flowers which will be attached to recycled wood and metal.

What is your favourite piece of work you have created and why?

I think the most favourite piece I have created is a bed I created on ‘The Great Pottery Throwdown’. The challenge was to create a secret box within a box that was disguised. I chose a bed which has significant meaning to me as a safe space through my illnesses. I loved that I had created something so special and in the limited time frame we had.

What was it like being on The Great Pottery Throwdown? What did you gain from the experience?

Being on the show was amazing. It was so wonderful to meet all the other potters and have such a unique experience. Meeting my hero, Keith Brymer Jones and having him cry over my work was really special too. It has forced me to have confidence in my own style. I have made amazing friends and memories that I will treasure forever and I feel the future is really bright.

What is your favourite part of the pottery process? What do you find challenging?

My favourite part of the process is the decorating part. I love painting and adding those final touches and characters to pieces. The part I find most challenging is the science and technical side of pottery. There is a lot of science involved and lots of variation in kiln firings and glazes etc so it can be frustrating at times.

Who is your favourite artist and why? Do they have an influence on your work?

I take inspiration from all over really but I like the sentiment of Grayson Perrys work. He really adds sentiment and meaning in his work. I really like Alice Neels paintings I love that she has a free flowing style and stuck with that idea not allowing others to sway her in other directions. She was really true to her style. I take lots of inspiration from illustrators such as Quentin Blake, Raymond Brigg and animations such as Wallace and Grommit.

How do you want people to feel when they see your work?

I hope that my work brightens up peoples’ days. The work I create is colourful, quirky and heartfelt and I hope that is what people see.

Why do you think art is important in society?

I have spent my entire career in education and I have seen what an impact art and creativity can have. It is there to inspire and engage and it is seen as an added extra in our society and the education system. Something that you do on a Friday afternoon if you have been good. It is the first thing we do as we grow and learn, we play, explore and experiment. This then gets beaten out of us the bigger we get. I am truly passionate about the part art can play for our brain development and our ability to cope with the crazy busy lives we all lead. Clay is therapeutic, art, in general, is therapy. I hope one day that a week in a classroom starts with Monday morning art instead of last on the agenda Friday afternoon and I think then we will see a huge change in society for the better.

https://www.instagram.com/rebeccanorris.designs/

ARTIST INTERVIEW: REBECCA NORRIS