Artist: Annabelle Smith
Annabelle Smith, ST. IVES
BIO
Annabelle studied Fine Art at the University of Gloucestershire, where she specialized in contemporary installation art. In her third year, an electric wheel arrived in the 3D room of the university and she began to realize her dream of becoming a production potter.
After graduating, Annabelle started volunteering in various potteries around Devon and Cornwall. She helped at the Oxford Anagama project before spending a short time as a volunteer at the Leach and continuing on to do some work at Kigbeare studios. In 2017, Annabelle joined as the first female apprentice in the history of the Leach Pottery.
Recently, Annabelle has represented the Leach Pottery Studio and her works at Jeff Oestreich’s home, during the St Croix Valley Pottery Tour 2022 and cannot wait to put into practice the gnarly, free formed, lightheartedness of American styled pottery that was witnessed there. It was a joyous celebration of possibilities, visually clashing against the ‘rigidity’ of English studio pottery, all while holding similar philosophies. Annabelle hopes to forever dance on the line between function and fun.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Within my work I explore the theme of texture using a variety of media. The main textures that are aesthetically inspiring to me are natural forms, such as bark and seedpods. Mark making techniques I have recently used are linked to my love for process, working with these objects in particular ways to create a desired pattern. This usually changes over time through familiarisation with the tool, which can take years to perfect.
Texture and pots go hand in hand together and using pattern helps me to create layers for the fingers to run across. Mostly I use natural found objects and aim to never copy nature, but try to hint and suggest towards it by creating repetitive pattern. This has also led me to break from the restraints of repetitive motion to form more spars mark making and linear brushwork often makes an appearance.
My hope if that the bright colours of my work how the fun side of what you can do with production pottery and show the possibilities of wares you can make by joining thrown pieces together. I really enjoy making pots with two pieces to make a whole, for example, lidded jars, corked bottles and sticking thrown pieces together to create something that the pottery wheel couldn’t do in one go. To avoid the wheel thrown circle by squishing and reforming pots helps create more unique works.
Recently, Annabelle has represented the Leach Pottery Studio and her works at Jeff Oestreich’s home, during the St Croix Valley Pottery Tour 2022 and cannot wait to put into practice the gnarly, free formed, lightheartedness of American styled pottery that was witnessed there. It was a joyous celebration of possibilities, visually clashing against the ‘rigidity’ of English studio pottery, all while holding similar philosophies. Annabelle hopes to forever dance on the line between function and fun.
EXHIBITIONS
“Yunomi Invitational”, Clay Akar. June 2022
St Croix Valley Pottery Tour. Minnesota 2022
Thrown Contemporary. Southwark, London. October 2021
“Land Sea Sky”, Aubergine Art Gallery. Wimbledon, London. April 2021
“An Apprenticeship: Annabelle Smith” Solo Show, The Leach Pottery, Cornwall. November 2020
“Leach Studio Potters: 100 Years On”, The Leach Pottery, Cornwall. February 2020
Thrown Contemporary. Highgate, London. September 2019
St Croix Valley Pottery Tour, USA. May 2019
Thrown Contemporary. Highgate, London. September 2018
“Ten Years On”, The Leach Pottery, Cornwall. July 2018
St Croix Valley Pottery Tour, USA. April 2018
“Make a Teapot”, Tate St Ives, Cornwall. April 2017