A former police officer based in Corsham and Swindon who gave up her career to become a ceramic artist is about to take centre stage at one of the biggest events in her industry: The International Ceramics Festival.
Jo Taylor, originally from Bristol, now lives in Corsham and was a police officer in the local area between 1995 and 2003.
In 2000 Jo made the life changing decision to give up her profession in a bid to pursue her passion for pottery. Now, an established ceramicist and well-known name in the industry, her work has appeared in prestigious venues such as Doddington Hall, Bath Abbey and the Holburne Museum, and over the weekend of Friday 3 to Sunday 5 July Jo will demonstrate her art to more than a thousand potters, artists, teachers, students, collectors and lovers of clay and craft at the UK’s leading festival of ceramics.
The 15th International Ceramics Festival, which will take place at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, has become a well-established event since its launch in 1987 and a highlight on the crafts calendar. The event is designed for everyone interested in the art; from hobbyists who dabble in pottery – like Jo used to be- to serious ceramicists – as she is now
ICF 2015 will feature live demonstrations of techniques, outdoor kiln building, talks and demonstrations from distinguished national and international practitioners from a variety of ceramic practices.
Speaking about her upcoming role, Jo, who makes sculptural forms from fragments of clay, said: “I’m really looking forward to sharing my techniques with festival-goers, and the resulting discussions. People often assume I use moulds or an extruder so I will be happy to explain my fairly simple methods, using the wheel and hand building, and why it is so enjoyable.”
Over the weekend, as part of her demonstrations, Jo will be using coloured porcelain and making freestanding sculptures and wall hung pieces to show how she builds her pieces.
Speaking about how she made the leap from police to potter Jo said: “I learnt to throw at evening class in 1991 and was happy with pottery as a hobby. However in 2000 I started a part time degree course at Bath Spa University to learn all I could about ceramics with the aim of making the career change. It was a real risk changing careers, because as a police officer I had a steady career ahead of me, but I knew I would regret it if I didn’t.
“After graduating in 2005 I made thrown tableware and started teaching ceramics in a prison, before returning to University in 2009 to study for a Masters degree. Everything changed during this course when I embarked upon my new sculptural work, which I have been developing ever since.”
Talking about her inspirations to become a ceramic artist Jo said: “I was initially drawn to throwing, inspired by my evening class tutor Kevin de Choisy and makers like Walter Keeler, whose demonstrations are fantastic. From that time onwards I have regularly been inspired to learn more and try new things. The journey has allowed me to visit places and meet people I never could have imagined. I have become more passionate about the discipline since I have learnt more about clay and its endless possibilities.
“During my MA I was fortunate to be sharing a studio with retired head of sculpture Michael Pennie, and learnt much about sculpture from seeing him work. Inspiration comes from many places these days; the Victoria and Albert Museum, music, sculptors such as Richard Deacon and Barbara Hepworth, anything clay.”
And would Jo encourage other wannabe artists to ‘throw’ it all in and get stuck in to clay? “It takes time to build a reputation and get your work noticed. There will be many rejections which can be hard so, to anyone wanting to pursue ceramics as a career, make sure you have a good circle of likeminded friends with whom you can commiserate and share. Also, it can be financially tough getting started, which is why many of us teach or write.”
Achieving a starring role at the International Ceramics Festival is another milestone achievement for Jo who, in 2014, was elected as a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and was shortlisted for the Perrier Jouet Arts Salon Prize, The Edgar Modern Tribe prize and the Young Master Maylis Grand ceramics prize.
The line-up for the Festival was secured by organisers North and South Wales Potters and Aberystwyth Arts Centre and alongside Jo features guest artists from Thailand, India, Spain, France, Philippines, Serbia, Canada and the USA.