Robyn Cove

My ceramic vessels are predominantly made using handbuilding techniques which are slow paced and methodical. I find pots to be inherently figurative, and I enjoy reflecting this in my work. I leave finger and tool marks from the making process, to add to this human connection and the physicality of the final pieces. Layers of slips, oxide washes and glazes are used with a variety of application techniques to reflect the weather, open landscapes, rock, lichen, the movement of wild grasses, and my sensory experience of travelling through life in this part of our world. Some vessels feature direct depictions of plant life I encounter on my walks around rural Scotland. I am continuously exploring new surfaces to further express this element. Most aspects of my pots have a subtlety about them, evolving somewhat organically during the making process. They often give a nod to early British Studio Pottery; this acknowledges my family connection to Michael Cardew and the many cultural inspirations of the early makers in this field. It is important for me that I recognise this within my own work for a sense of belonging and a self-acceptance of my own mixed heritage.