BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING PERIOD HOMES MAGAZINE HOMES ❋ DECORATING ❋ GARDENS ❋ ANTIQUES & VINTAGE ❋ RENOVATION SEPTEMBER 2014 www.periodliving.co.uk £3.99 New British THIS SEASON'S WALLPAPERS & FABRICS FROM OUR HOME-GROWN TALENT DESIGNERS LIGHTING ADVICE KITCHEN ISLANDS LOFT EXTENSIONS INTERIOR SOLUTIONS It's Showtime HOW TO DISPLAY TREASURED CURIOS & COLLECTIBLES PAGES OF REAL HOMES & GARDENS 45 THE PRESERVATION OF RARE & HISTORIC GLASSHOUSES VICTORIAN GEMS SCULPTURAL PIECES INSPIRED BY NATURE ART FOR OUTDOORS
Transcript
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2014 ISSU
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BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING PERIOD HOMES MAGAZINE
H O M E S ❋ D E C O R A T I N G ❋ G A R D E N S ❋ A N T I Q U E S & V I N T A G E ❋ R E N O V A T I O N
SEPTEMBER 2014
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w.periodliving.co.uk £3.99
New British THIS SEASON'S WALLPAPERS & FABRICSFROM OUR HOME-GROWN TALENT
DESIGNERS
LIGHTING ADVICEKITCHEN ISLANDS
LOFT EXTENSIONS
INTERIOR SOLUTIONS
It's Showtime HOW TO DISPLAY TREASURED CURIOS & COLLECTIBLES
Marston & Langinger paints are not only beautiful, but also technically advanced.They are self-priming, extraordinarily durable with impeccable environmental credentials.
Exterior Eggshell | Chalky Interior Matt | Interior EggshellSample pots available www.marston-and-langinger.com +44 (0) 20 7881 5700 @MLanginger
Also available from Brewers
THE BEST PAINT IN THE WORLD
THE PLEASURE OF CREATION
Pages 4-33.indd 4 17/07/2014 12:45
‘Welcome
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT Eclectic country house fi nds, page 75; cosy throws and blankets, page 18; salvaged gems, page 133; rustic family kitchen style, page 51; upcycled vintage pieces, page 21
Putting your own unique stamp on a property is the best
bit about owning any house
‘
I always enjoy perusing the Readers’ Homes section (from page 44) and discovering creative gems that I can repurpose in my own space. For me, putting your own unique stamp on a property is the best bit about owning any house, period or not. Forget the � aking paint, slightly rotten sills and cracked window panes – focus on what really matters: will the blue Chester� eld and o� -white wall colour transform the room or not? Sometimes you get it right and wonder why you didn’t do it years before; other transformations take longer to live with and be accepted by friends and family visiting your “castle”.
After being inspired by a reader’s home a few years ago, I decided to chequerboard my � oorboards, which took me the best part of a year – or so it seemed at the time. Some visitors comment on them, usually decorators, shaking their heads, while others clearly think I have too much time on my hands. Every time I walk through the hall, I remember all those hours spent scrambling around on my hands and knees getting the chequering, masking and painting just right. But I love them – and that makes all the hard work feel worthwhile.
RACHEL WATSON, EDITOR
P
Editor’s Letter
SUBSCRIBETO PERIOD LIVINGMAGAZINETODAYSubscribe to Period Livingand, as well as saving 30 per cent, you can give a
friend three issues for free.See page 110 for details
EDs_letter sep.indd 5 18/07/2014 12:30
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The TeamEDITORIAL
Content Director Michael HolmesEditor Rachel Watson
Content Editor Rachel CrowContent Producer Laura Armstrong
EDITORIAL PRODUCTIONContent Production Editor Melanie Griffi ths
Art Editor Michelle CooksonDesigner Karen Lawson
Chief Content Sub Editor Lucinda NealContent Sub Editor Emily Hawkes
Contributions by Billy Peel and Emily Smith
SUBSCRIPTIONS & MARKETINGHead of Marketing Melanie Graham 01527 834452
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020 7970 4421 / 01527 834445Client Partnership Director Chris Priestley
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Web Services Technician Laura SturgessContent Producer (Online) Natasha Johnson
Social Media Editor Sarah Handley
PUBLISHING AND EXHIBITIONS MANAGEMENTJoint Managing Directors
Peter Harris (Content and Marketing)Nick Noble (Commercial)
H O M E S ❋ D E C O R A T I N G ❋ G A R D E N S ❋ A N T I Q U E S & V I N T A G E ❋ R E N O V A T I O N
Flannel_aug 2.indd 6 18/07/2014 10:32
We have been handcrafting kitchens from our Cambridgeshire workshop for more than thirty years.
All of our kitchens are designed and made to order, unique to the needs of their owners. Our philosophy is to offer premium-quality, durable cabinetry combined with the best in thoughtful design and service. Visit one of our beautiful showrooms now, or call for more information.
H O M E S ❋ D E C O R A T I N G ❋ G A R D E N S ❋ A N T I Q U E S & V I N T A G E ❋ R E N O V A T I O N
SEPTEMBER 2014
New British THIS SEASON'S WALLPAPERS & FABRICSFROM OUR HOME-GROWN TALENT
DESIGNERS
LIGHTING ADVICEKITCHEN ISLANDS
LOFT EXTENSIONS
INTERIOR SOLUTIONS
It's Showtime HOW TO DISPLAY TREASURED CURIOS & COLLECTIBLES
PAGES OF REAL HOMES & GARDENS
45
THE PRESERVATION OF RARE & HISTORIC GLASSHOUSES
VICTORIAN GEMS
SCULPTURAL PIECES INSPIRED BY NATURE
ART FOR OUTDOORS
32
28
1611717
88
DECORATING & SHOPPING13 Shortlist
The latest and most stylish interiors o� erings, chosen by the editor
17 BoutiquePrepare for the colder months ahead with our pick of snug throws and autumnal copper home accessories
35 A British visionBe inspired by fabrics and papers from the latest home-grown design talent
ANTIQUES & VINTAGE21 Past to present
New happenings, views and events in the antiques, vintage and art worlds
25 The cool, calm collectorMarc Allum refl ects on the heyday of the car boot sale, plus shop for your own early-morning-bargain fi nds
162 My vintage worldVintage blogger Catherine Beck shares her ideas and inspirations
REAL HOMES 44 Echoes of memories
Sue Swain and Steve Ford turned a tired Georgian property into a perfect family home
52 Behind the scenes Film director Rob Sorrenti put his creativity to the test when he transformed a run-down basement fl at into a stylish living space
60 Triumphant returnMatt Whitby took on his most challenging renovation project to date when he converted four bedsits into his dream home
68 A bouquet of creativityShaun Clarkson and Paul Brewster have added a sense of grandeur and tradition to their quaint country cottage
GARDENS 88 On the grapevine
Garden news, products and advice91 Journey of discovery
Amateur gardener Marie du Boulay has carefully linked traditional and modern design to create a fl owing country garden
98 Full to brimmingBob and Shirley Stoneley’s cottage garden brings a welcome burst of colour to the landscape well into the autumn months
SEP contents 2 NEW.indd 8 18/07/2014 15:23
FEATURES 28 The artisan
Taking inspiration from the surrounding countryside, ceramicist Pauline Lee crafts beautifully textured botanical sculptures
77 A natural romantic Leida Nassir-Pour demonstrates how to display your favourite collectables in style
82 Spotlight on...One couple have carefully restored the derelict Victorian greenhouses in their traditional walled garden
107 Out & about We explore the 400 years of domestic history on show at the Ge� rye Museum in Shoreditch, London
130 Best of British Discover the rich history behind Kirkpatrick, a historic West Midlands-based manufacturer of traditional ironmongery
HOME ESSENTIALS 113 10 of the best lighting ideas
The most illuminating design solutions for period properties
117 Island livingFind the perfect kitchen work table or breakfast bar for your space, style and needs
123 Lofty ideasThe experts advise on converting and extending the loft space in a period home
RENOVATION & PROPERTY 133 Reclaim & reuse
We trawl for treasure at the salvage yards135 Repair or replace?
Douglas Kent advises whether you should preserve or replace clay roof pantiles
137 Mastering plasterKeep traditional mouldings in top condition with our guide to renovating plaster
140 Dream homesOur pick of beautiful period properties on sale across the UK
REGULARS110 Subscription o� er
Subscribe and save 30 per cent plus get three free issues for a friend
142 Stockists Where to fi nd products listed in this issueCo
This Month...Prepare for the changing of the seasons by giving your home a fresh new look, taking inspiration from our
decorating feature celebrating British design talent, and expert guides to loft conversions, kitchens and lighting
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A WARM WELCOME
Create an inviting entrance with accessories in a rich autumn palette. See our pick of copper homewares and cosy throws, from page 17,
for more ideas
rw season openr SEPT.indd 11 17/07/2014 09:11
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Pages 4-33.indd 16 17/07/2014 12:46
Cherith Harrison’s new collection, Woodland Roots,
features homeware decorated with wild creatures including
owls, stags and robins. The red squirrel bone china mug
celebrates this elusive animal with an illustrated design
taken from pencil drawings and pretty polka dots, priced
£10.95. (07711 851608; cherithharrison.com)
News
shortlist
MOROCCAN ESCAPE
WILD WOODLAND
Created using a montage of vintage postcards from the 1920s to 1930s, this Cartes Postales du Maroc wallpaper by Space Innovation exhibits beautiful images depicting period scenes across Morocco, from Marrakech to Casablanca. Measuring W52cm, it costs £85 per 10m roll. (spaceinnovation.co.uk)
SOFT TO TOUCH
Designed to resemble the iconic piece of furniture, the Eames style DSW Ei� el chair is an a� ordable way to add a statement piece to your interior. Moulded to suit any shape, it is available in 18 colours, £33.98. (0800 092 1636; my-furniture.co.uk)
Classic choice
SeptemberThe editor’s pick of the latest and
most stylish interior o� erings
Family run British business Helen Moore o� ers luxury faux fur
fashion, including stylish homewares. This Ermine throw, £270, and Ermine
cushions, £40 each, would bring
sophistication to any autumnal living room.
(01884 860900; helenmoore.com)
Talent spotAfter graduating with a degree in illustration in 2012, Josie Shenoy established her own design business based in Deptford, London. Inspired by vintage colourways, Josie creates designs for lighting, stationery and greetings cards using a range of techniques, including pencil drawing, collage and traditional printing methods. Her designs are often infl uenced by her love of nature, folklore and storytelling. Her lampshade designs are priced from £55. For more information, visit josieshenoy.com.
cherithharrison.com)
September news .indd 13 17/07/2014 15:02
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Add tropical colour to your home with a block-printed cushion. Inspired by the Kantha embroidery practised in India, these quilted cushion covers are sewn to create a wrinkled texture. Available in fi ve colourways, £30 for a set of two. (020 3651 8194; reasonseasontime.co.uk)
Closing their antiques shop in Wales after nine years, husband and wife team Ken and Lynne Bundy’s new venture, Retrometrohome, sells a carefully curated selection of antique, salvaged and artisan objects including furniture, lighting and decorative pieces. This Queen Anne style wing armchair is priced £595. (retrometrohome.co.uk; 01550 777558)
Set a tabletop to be proud of with these modern napkins from LinenMe. Made from linen fl ax with handmade fringing, the napkins are available in a
variety of plain, striped or checked patterns, allowing di� erent combinations to make an eclectic set. The
black striped linen napkin, shown here, is priced £3.99. (020 8133 3853; linenme.com)
A new eco-friendly, easy-cleanfi nish, elite emulsion has been added to Zo� any’s paint range.Its pigment ensures a low sheen but vivid colour, shown (from top) in Pebble, Smoke and Russet. £42.50 for 2.5ltrs. (0844 543 4600; zo� any.com) W
ords
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BUSH
Perfect paint
Embrace a rural interior with this quirky Wild Boar wallpaper, new from Lush
Designs. This illustrated design reworks a traditional country
pattern with a characterful modern twist, with the print
featuring on several Lush Designs products, including
china and lampshades. Made in the UK, the Wild Boar
wallpaper is priced at £49.50 per 10.5m roll. (020 8694 1664;
lushlampshades.co.uk)
Sociable seatingWith summer now over,
Out There Interiors’ latest rattan furniture collection
will bring a sense of the outdoors inside. Natural
braided chair, £195; wide braided chair, £395;
Grey rattan chair, £295. (020 8099 7443;
outthereinteriors.com)
MONOCHROME LINEN
COUNTRYCREATURES Web watch
EXOTIC STITCHING
Rustic lightingLaura Ashley’s Hedgerow collection explores nature with an autumnal, neutral palette and a selection of foliage-inspired prints. The Rusper lantern, £70, is rustic in appearance, with plug-in mains power for continuous light. (03332 008 009; lauraashley.com)
plug-in mains power
September news .indd 14 17/07/2014 09:14
Pages 4-33.indd 15 17/07/2014 12:46
Boutique
Embrace autumnal russet tones and add warmth to your interior with our selection of vibrant copper pieces
Burnished GLOW
For a more traditional take, try this copper e� ect metal jug, £20, Laura Ashley
This Koppel clock by Georg Jensen, £185, draws on an iconic original design from 1978
As the longer nights draw in, light your garden with Broste’s Brenton lantern, £29.99, Selfridges
Hammered for a textured surface, this bowl is perfect for storing trinkets, £30, Cox & Cox
The French Bedroom Company o� ers this Polygon side table, also ideal as a stool, £285
Contrast pale blooms with this mouthblown, artisan LSA Remi vase, £32, Black by Design
Create warm ambient light with this large Loft copper pendant lamp, £195, Alexander & Pearl
Graham & Green’s Isaac iron armchair, £85, has an industrial look with a brushed fi nish
Nick Fraser highlights the natural shine of copper with this pipework candlestick, £45
Feat
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For suppliers’ details, turn to stockists page
Shopping_Copper_Kat.indd 17 17/07/2014 09:18
Boutique
As the cooler nights begin to draw in, snuggle up with our stylish selection of the latest cosy throws and blanketsWRAPS
Under
For suppliers’ details, turn to stockists page
The Wool Company’s Castillo mohair throw in Jade, £119, is finished with hand-knotted fringing
With red and blue stripes, Joules’ cotton Ticking Stripe throw, £85, has a coastal feel
This By Mölle Mill blanket, shown in Chocolate, is made of pure Scandinavian wool, £119, Amara
This knitted wool throw, £207, Really Well Made, has a reworked traditional Norwegian pattern
Made of biodynamic merino wool, this Twist a Twill Petrol blanket is £98 from Hus & Hem
This Monceaux Sa�ron checked blanket is made of mohair and lambswool, £185, Designers Guild
Made of pure wool, this English mustard yellow throw has a textured weave, £48.50, Clare Loves
Woven in Ireland’s Avoca Mills, this Trudy check blanket is £79.99 from Coast & Country Interiors
To experience the full range, request your free copy of the Jim Lawrence brochure:call 01473 826940, email [email protected] or visit www.jim-lawrence.co.uk
Showroom at The Ironworks, Lady Lane, Hadleigh, Suffolk IP7 6BQ
NOTHING SIMILAR IS QUITE THE SAME
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Past toThe latest word from the auction
rooms, and news and reviews from the antiques and art worlds
Antiques & Vintage
present
Carry Akroyd and Malcolm Ashman, two artists passionate about the rural landscape, are showing
their latest work in Field Pattern at The Jerram Gallery in Dorset, from 20 September to 8 October. Ashman depicts the rolling hills of Wessex, jotting
notes and sketching as he travels, and then painting his compositions in oils partly from memory in his
Bath studio, while Akroyd’s acrylic and watercolour images derive from her walks in the Fens, where
she lives. Admission free. Open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am-5pm. The Jerram Gallery, Half Moon Street,
What is your favourite fi nd?My favourite fi nd is potentially whatever is around the corner tomorrow. The thrill of discovering a special or rare piece is why I’m in this business. Today, I’ve chosen a wooden horse, made in around 1870 for a fairground. In the 1920s it was converted into a rocking horse and over-painted white. We’ve taken it o� the rockers, and are having a stand made for it. What’s intriguing is how the top layer is peeling away to reveal the original fairground reds, blues and
MY GREAT DISCOVERY
ChrisHolmesOwner of
Chris Holmes Decorative Interiors in Harrogate, Yorkshire
In a spinDream of far-fl ung
adventures with this antique French globe
on a wooden base, £99.50, Pastel Lane.
(07949 339416; pastellane.co.uk)
greens beneath. It is just such a wonderful piece of social history.
Of all the items you’ve dealt with, which do you most want to keep?A beautiful gilded angel, dated about 1600, which came from a private chapel in southern Italy. It’s the quality of carving, and the intensity of the look in the eyes – I love it.
9.30am-5pm. The Jerram Gallery, Half Moon Street, Sherborne, Dorset. (01935 815261; jerramgallery.com)9.30am-5pm. The Jerram Gallery, Half Moon Street,
Bringing hidden histories to life, Heritage Open Days celebrates its 20th anniversary with a four-day festival, running from 11 to 14 September. From towers and tunnels, factories and follies, to chapels and synagogues, thousands of England’s unique historic sites will be throwing open their doors for free. (0844 335 1884; heritageopendays.org.uk)
The hot seatThis 1950s G Plan
easy chair has been reupholstered with a retro-style fabric from John Lewis.
H80xW50xD70cm, £320, Elephant & Monkey. (07721
042363; elephantandmonkey.co.uk)
Vintage Buys
Antiques news.indd 21 18/07/2014 14:08
The largest stocks ofPersian and Afghan
rugs in the UK
1000’s in stock in each store with sizes up to 27’x17’
Stores at:
Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 8UD 1/2 Mile from Junction 16, M5
Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 7FJ At the roundabout of the A460 and A4601
Bodelwyddan, N. Wales LL18 5TZ Just off Junction 25, A55
0845 4 900 600
14/12
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Pages 4-33.indd 19 17/07/2014 12:46
Antiques & Vintage
The Cool, Calm CollectorMarc Allum
Marc Allum takes a trip down memory lane and wonders
whether the heyday of the car boot sale
is over, or whether he just can’t get out of
bed anymore…
Boot sale challengeVictorian real estate. I miss those things – the Fijian war club bought for £7, the 17th century brass Adam & Eve charger bought for £5, the Rossetti chair bought for £15, the Biagini car mascot bought for 50 pence… � ey all have their niche in my gallimaufry of nostalgic procuration.
I smile when I think of the camaraderie that my best friend and I developed as we wandered the lines of sagging pasting tables vying for the largest Georgian glass haul. (I always won.) Not for me the hatchback scrum; I always preferred to let the hardened crack-squad of commando totters mount their full-scale assault on some poor hapless person with a car full of baby clothing, then strategically use the 20 second stall-scan technique as a general precursor to a more detailed trawl later on. It seemed to work well.
Over the years, as the professionals moved in with cheap motor oil and tomato plants and my evolving yet exhausting career emphasised the importance of weekend lie-ins, I began to pick and choose, only stirring from my Empire lit-en-bateau to eat Eggs Benedict or vet a posh boot sale. I love those charity events – country types in shooting brakes and Range Rovers, the smell of horse boxes stu� ed with goodies dredged from the aristocratic barns and attics of old family piles in the heart of hunting country. Yet, greed and avarice still abound as in� ltrators masquerade as vendors to scale the drawbridges of equine logistics and polite society to carry o� the booty of an unsuspecting do-gooder. “Stop!” I shout, as an 18th century Dieppe ivory Madonna is handed over for a paltry £5, only to � nd myself threatened by a seriously tough chap as he quickly sees the ill-won prospect of his £1,500 pro� t quickly evaporating. “Surely not,” I hear you say, but sadly
this is by no means an uncommon scenario, as I pit my wits against
the worst aspects of the human condition.
Such is the life of an antiques specialist, frequently called upon to adjudicate and ponti� cate, o� en harangued, nearly assaulted, sometimes appreciated but never
deterred – a champion of the cause: the Cool,
Calm Collector.
Buy car boot gadgets
ABOVE In his early days of car boot hunting,
Marc chanced upon a Rossetti chair, like this one by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner
& Co, and snapped it up for a mere £15
RIGHT Bargains can be found; maybe nestled
in a box of brass items is an Adam and Eve charger?
Yawn! It must be a symptom of my underactive thyroid, but these days the prospect of jumping out of bed at the crack of dawn in pursuit of car boot sale bargains seems to have
become a distant memory. Harking back to those early days of post-apocalyptic bomb-site foraging, I remember with great nostalgia the excitement of � lling my stylish Renault Fuego with Georgian glasses, wacky (and largely unsaleable) pieces of stainless steel, tribal art and 1950s furniture.
True, hardly a week goes by when I don’t buy an object; some weeks I buy several. It is my condition, you see. Sadly, the early morning gusto of my youth has been replaced by the relative (but stylish) simplicity of a Nespresso, buttered crumpets and a large, touch-sensitive computer screen, which saves me having to set foot in muddy � elds. I view the auctions online, maybe toddle along if I see something that tempts me, and then I bid on the internet while writing a book or an article. Perfect – or is it?
Looking back on previous decades, I do have a habit of fondly recounting those early pro� table purchases. If the tales were all about girls, I would no doubt be disdainfully ostracised by people bored of my boastful hormonal exploits, but instead, I seem to get away with the bargain basement banter of youthful joie de vivre and adventitious discovery. My early days of collecting were like a serendipitous joyride through the countryside of providential acquisition. Fate played its part, and I loved the idea that no day out on the hunt would be the same, that the
chance purchase of a fabulous signed Nicholson Alphabet print or a Christopher Dresser toast rack might be as likely or as unlikely as � nding a good roadside bacon butty.
Few of those early purchases have survived into the “core collection”, but instead they were useful stepping stones: house deposits and cars, savoured for a while then traded up the property ladder of life in style-changing sell-o� s and momentous reinventions, as personal success became measured in Georgian rather than
Fate played its part, and I loved the idea that no day out on the
hunt would be the same
Marc Allum september.indd 25 16/07/2014 15:31
Antiques & Vintage
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM Go modern metric or opt for old school imperial with the Victor traditional cast-iron kitchen scales, shown in pale blue, £60, Artisanti; in a brass fi nish as shown, or in chrome, this butler’s bell kit is based on a Victorian design, £115.20, Tuscanor; just as they made it in the 1930s, the Zig Zag corkscrew removes even stubborn corks with a satisfying pop, £25.94, Tanglewood Wine.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM This 19th-century Coalbrookdale cast-iron garden roller will make a decorative statement, £340, Jardinique Garden Antiques; an idea from the past that faded away, the Bump stapleless paper fastener cuts, folds and tucks, $55, approx £32, Patented Antiques; this late 19th century hot water urn is £230 from Below Stairs of Hungerford Antiques.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM Bialetti’s Moka Express is the iconic stove-top co� ee maker invented in 1933, from £28 for a three-cup size, John Lewis; shown in red, the Alessi kitchen timer with a mechanical movement can time up to 60 minutes, £19.95, Selfridges; impress guests with homemade lasagne or spaghetti squeezed through this chrome pasta machine, £25, Marks & Spencer.
ONLINE ANTIQUE IN STORE
At your service Car boot sales are a haven for tool fans, so will the gadgets of today become tomorrow’s collectibles?
PREMIER PARTNERS: Aberdeen Tree House Interiors · Blackheath Woods of London · Chippenham Closa · Derby Hunters of Derby · Dorchester Woods · Falmouth Richard Cook · Holt Living at the Appleyard Gallery · Leeds Aberford Kitchens & Interiors · Newcastle Bridgewater Interiors Ltd · Rye Concepts Rye · Worcester Holloways
PICTURED: Madeleine Chairs in Millet £365, Eva Armchairs £1,990, Olivia Medium Sofa £1,695, Henley 120cm Co� ee Table £495, Accessories by Neptune
Have you heard...“I have fallen in love with Neptune all over again” Louise, Maidenhead - June 2014
Period Living_LIVING_OS_AUGUST_2014.indd 1 08/07/2014 09:20:32
Pages 4-33.indd 27 17/07/2014 12:46
Words RACHEL CROW Photographs POLLY ELTES
With her ceramic sculptures, Pauline Lee reflects the natural forms and textures surrounding her idyllic garden studio, set in a peaceful pocket of the ruggedly beautiful Devon landscape
FORMATIONSBotanical
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The Artisan
T he approach to Pauline Lee’s house is a magical journey, winding through atmospheric valley woodland beside the �owing course of the River Dart in Dartmoor National Park. Her home,
one of two small lodges that stand at the entrance of the driveway to Spitchwick Manor, is nestled in a sunny clearing among the trees, and behind it spreads her enchanting garden, which she and her partner Je� have gradually created over the course of the 17 or so years that they have lived there. Meandering grass pathways snake through densely planted naturalistic borders and past exotic areas shaded by the immense leaves of giant gunnera, while a small brook babbles its way through to meet at the garden’s edge with the murmuring river, at the other side of which the woodland rises steeply up the bank.
Here and there dotted around the garden, peeking from behind foxgloves and arum lilies or taking shade under the spread of ferns, Pauline’s ceramic garden sculptures are inspired by the botanical forms that surround them. ‘When I came here, I could just see forms everywhere and developed such a passion for gardening and plants, and for the landscape, that it started coming through more in my work,’ she explains.
Sitting harmoniously alongside their lush and verdant environment, her abstract sculptures
THIS IMAGE Pauline’s peaceful garden studio, against the backdrop of
Dartmoor woodland and surrounded by her
ceramic sculpturesABOVE The artist and her work. ‘I am forever moving pieces around
the garden,’ she says
Sue in her garden studio, where her prints and
enamels sit side by side in happy harmony. ‘It
is so important to have a space of my own,
surrounded by things that inspire me. It’s a
mental space as well as a physical one,’ she says
FROM FAR LEFT A pair of sculptures stand out against giant gunnera leaves in front of a bamboo tea house; ‘this piece was improvised from a flower form,’ explains Pauline; her inspiring garden with its imaginative planting
Artisan_September v2.indd 29 17/07/2014 08:49
clearly display the in�uences of natural creations – seed heads, artichokes and fungi to name a few. ‘I don’t try to copy things rigidly; shapes and forms will catch my eye as I’m in the garden, or taking my dog Ruben for a walk in the woods, and I will sketch lots of variations of the same form, noting down what it is about the shape that I want to achieve,’ she explains. ‘It’s quite free and I just improvise. �e work of German photographer and sculptor Karl Blossfeldt (1864–1932) is a massive inspiration to me. His black and white photographs show plants in sculptural ways.’
Pauline’s artist’s studio sits at the far end of the garden. Made from two modi�ed sheds, it blends into the garden landscape, with honeysuckle and clematis creeping over the roof and fragrant pink roses up the walls. Inside brims with her various �red stoneware sculptures, pots, �gurative work and wall tiles, plus the sketches of their origin, as she prepares to open for Devon Open Studios.
Having studied �ne art and sculpture at the former Hornsey College of Art in London, it was not until she was in her mid-thirties and living in Devon with two small children that Pauline started to experiment with ceramics. ‘I found a BTEC course in ceramics in Plymouth, which
ABOVE LEFT There is order to the chaos of Cathy’s brimming
workshop, where every inch of space is used
OPPOSITE Cathy often sits on the stone
wall surrounding her garden to draw, looking
out to open fields CLOCKWISE FROM
ABOVE Shelves painted light blue provide the
perfect backdrop to showcase her work;
Cathy handsews a detail on a street scene, of
which she makes about 12 a year; a framed
picture costs around £225, and a pincushion £14.50
f I wake up early and take the dog for a walk before I go to the studio. On a good day, I’ll work until about 5pm, which might be interspersed with a bit of gardening, or I’ll pick some flowers. My work and the garden is very integrated. f I will listen to BBC Radio 4 to keep me company, and sometimes a pot will remind me of a particular afternoon play that was on as I was making it, but I think I do better work with music playing.f In summer it is lovely in here; in winter it can be cold, but I have a log-burning stove in the corner. Sometimes the clay can freeze, so I may end up taking it into the house to sculpt there.f My advice for anyone interested in sculpting is to look around you and start sketching. Take an ordinary object, natural or man-made, start drawing it and then play around with its shape and dimensions, and this becomes an extension of your imagination. Eventually the object you started with comes out as something completely di�erent.
How I work
Artisan_September v2.indd 30 17/07/2014 08:50
The Artisan‘I developed such a passion for gardening and plants,
and for the landscape, that it started coming through
more in my work’
The Artisan
I did for two years, and that gave me the con�dence to buy a kiln and rent a little studio space. I started making domestic mugs and bowls, which I sold at �rst in a shop opposite the studio. As it progressed, I found I couldn’t keep repeating the same things because I’m not methodical enough for that type of work, and my ceramics became more sculptural.’
�ere is also a strong textural element to her work, and she will o�en incorporate imprints from nature’s bounty – leaf and �ower impressions, or from beachcombing �nds – in the clay’s surface.
Working on a ‘pineapple-type form’ at her potter’s banding wheel, Pauline builds up the sculpture using a technique of coiling and pinching, where she adds one coil of the brown clay on top of another, joining and sculpting them together, gradually re�ning the form. Pushing from the inside of the malleable clay, she creates small bulges. ‘I like lumps and bumps,’ she smiles. ‘�is is quite a traditional form for garden �nials. I am inspired by trips to Madeira and the Canary Islands and love the tropical kind of look.’
She then applies washes of oxides and coloured slip to stain the sculpture before bisque-�ring it in the kiln, a�er which more washes, glazes and decorations are added before a second �ring. ‘If I’m not happy with the colour or �nish I can add a bit more. You never know exactly how it will turn out as it depends on the application and what’s underneath, and the reactions that occur in the kiln.’
With the wall tiles, she will roll out a slab of clay and apply imprints to create textures, then scratch
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Pauline will first sketch variations of an idea for a shape in charcoal, and develop these in more detailed pencil drawings; she works on a pot, ‘slipping and scoring’ to join each coil of malleable clay to the next; some of her designs incorporate pierced elements; oxide washes of red iron, manganese and copper are applied to a bisque-fired piece; Pauline’s work combines her skills as a sculptor and painter; abstract interpretations of seed heads; ‘this pot is made from two segments and that way I can build up and play around with the shapes,’ she explains
Artisan_September v2.indd 31 17/07/2014 08:50
TOP LEFT Pauline’s textured and decorated wall tiles reflect scenes of the surrounding woodland. ‘Texture is a really important element of my work. I can’t work on a smooth surface,’ she saysABOVE A fungus shaped vase perches on a tree stumpLEFT Pauline’s light-filled studio brimming with her work and toolsFAR LEFT Her sleepy companion Ruben
The Artisan
in and paint on designs. ‘�e glazes and slips catch the textures and create di�erent e�ects. I try to think of the colour from the beginning, because it is going to impact on what a piece feels like.
‘�e decoration was also getting quite elaborate on my pots,’ she continues, ‘so I decided to keep them more sculptural; any decoration now tends to follow the form rather than be imposed upon it.’
Working in such an idyllic setting, with only the sound of birdsong or the rush of the river to �lter through into her thoughts, it is no wonder Pauline is never at a loss for inspiration. l Visit paulineleeceramics.com. Pauline is one of 250 artists opening their studios for Devon Open Studios, from 6 to 21 September. Download the free brochure at devonartistnetwork.co.uk/AboutDOS
Artisan_September v2.indd 32 17/07/2014 08:51
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