Ceramic designer shows work

A Staffordshire ceramics designer is getting ready to exhibit her work in her first big show since graduating.

Julie Graddon, aged 53, of Burntwood, is exhibiting at the Stoke-on-Trent Ceramics Festival, between Friday and Sunday.

The festival, sponsored by Staffordshire University, is at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Hanley, and features exhibitions, competitions, demonstrations and an auction hosted by Antiques Roadshow presenters Eric Knowles and Henry Sandon.

Julie, who graduated from Staffordshire University this summer rediscovered her flair for ceramic design while at university. She has previously taken part in the university's own art and design show.

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A Staffordshire ceramics designer is getting ready to exhibit her work in her first big show since graduating.Julie Graddon, aged 53, of Burntwood, is exhibiting at the Stoke-on-Trent Ceramics Festival, between Friday and Sunday.

The festival, sponsored by Staffordshire University, is at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Hanley, and features exhibitions, competitions, demonstrations and an auction hosted by Antiques Roadshow presenters Eric Knowles and Henry Sandon.

Julie, who graduated from Staffordshire University this summer rediscovered her flair for ceramic design while at university. She has previously taken part in the university's own art and design show.

"The work for this exhibition is a completely new collection that I have been busy building since the end of university in July. It is completely new but follows the same theme of using a series of detailed caricatures, designed while sitting in Hanley Park observing some of the local characters.

"They are full of individuality and have a story to tell behind their facial features, which I think is fascinating," she said. Julie has also been setting up her own home studio throughout the summer and is hoping to attend classes to learn how to sell her unique designs over the internet with a specialist website.

"It is a learning curve at the moment so I am just feeling my way through life and trying to decide which way to go in and which audiences suit my work the best. Time is just flying by and all of a sudden the festival is upon us so I'm in panic mode at the moment but it is worth it as it's been such a positive experience.

"I have been spending a lot of my time getting all of the pieces ready as they can be very time consuming, especially as I have diversified into making brooches for this show. They are similar pieces showing character full faces, but are much smaller than my other work and therefore much more affordable and accessible for people who would like to purchase an original work but cannot afford to spend an awful lot."

Julie will also exhibit her work with a stall in the country fair at the Staffordshire County Show Ground in November.

She has also made bone china favour boxes for her son's wedding and now plans to carry on with her designs in her own ceramic design business.

For information about Julie Graddon's ceramics, email c.graddon@virgin.net or phone 01543 676016.