Studied:           City and Guilds Ceramics, S Notts College,                  1987-8
                        City and Guilds 730 Teaching Certificate                       1988-9
                        BTec HND Ceramics, Derby University,                        1990-2

 

Established Lady Bay Pottery: April 1993

 

Single fired domestic stoneware (gas reduction to 1300⁰C).

 

My work is largely wheel thrown but includes a range of hand-built domestic pieces. My current glaze palette is drawn from the idyllic coastal landscapes of my Irish childhood - warm earthy colours, inspired by the action of weather on surface. While I love working in stoneware for its unashamedly earthy sense of itself I also admire the refinement of porcelain, and seek to achieve something of that refinement in my handling of the stoneware clay on the wheel. The constant stretching to master the skills of making is a great springboard to creativity.

 

Function is an important aspect of my work and I enjoy and celebrate the domestic in terms both of use, context and scale - the domestic is the central core of everyday life and as such can speak directly and universally to all.

 

I have written a book for A&C Black (London): Single Firing: the Pros and Cons (1996) by Fran Tristram.

 

My work is illustrated in a number of publications including:

Doug Wensley’s Pottery – the Essential Manual (Crowood Press 2002)

Jo Connell’s Potters Guide to Ceramic Surfaces (Apple Press, 2002)

Neal French’s The Potter’s Encyclopedia of Colour, Shape and Form (Krause, 2003)

 

Fran Tristram shows at a number of events around the country: Events 2003; Events 2004

 

Fran Tristram offers courses, talks and demonstrations on a range of themes from basic ceramic skills to advanced throwing techniques and single firing.

 

Visitors are welcome to view Fran Tristram's current work at the workshop at any time by appointment.