An exhibition of Black and White Raku ceramic forms by Helen Rondell, her first solo exhibition in Glasgow, has opened at the Roger Billcliffe Gallery.

A young designer based in London, Helen has drawn inspiration for her work from travels in South Western USA, in particular the Pueblo Potteries in New Mexico.  Her pieces featuring a hole are inspired by the Native American ‘Wedding Vase’, also pebbles or shells that have been washed up on the beach worn thin by the sea.

She has been working with resist slips for a number of years, hand-building all her designs using coiling, pinching and then utilising her own press moulds.  She lightly burnishes all her work resulting in a subtle matt finish that is reminiscent of beach pebbles.  She also incorporates textural or line designs to emphasise the form.

Explaining her technique on her website she writes “Raku firing is very quick, usually reaching temperature in around 40 minutes. Because of the extreme variations in temperature there is a very high breakage rate. I find Raku an exciting way of firing, and I feel that it makes each piece quite individual, as the ‘cracks' have a life of their own.”

She is also one of nine ceramic artists who were invited to exhibit in ‘Empty’ being held at An Tuireann Arts Centre on the Isle of Skye in October this year.

The “Black and White” exhibition is on from 4 until 27 September at the Roger Billcliffe Gallery, 134 Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 4EL Tel 0141 332 4027.  Opening hours Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm and Saturday 10am to 1pm.  Admission is free.