Anna Lambert NEW WORK

About

Anna Lambert makes hand built earthenware ceramics for wall and table that relate to place. Using a range of techniques including altered clay slabs, modelling and painted slips, Anna‘s new work reflects a growing interest in her locality and to the fragile and constantly changing environment, responding to places as diverse as flooded valleys, degraded moorland and bird filled hedgerows. Inspired by Romanticism and new nature writing, she is engaging with a common language beyond pastoral sentimentality – interpreting memories and observation through drawing to make best use of the abstract nature of pots, their spaces, edges and surfaces, and developing a new range of techniques to alter, impress and colour the clay parts

We asked Anna to tell us about the new work for this exhibition

'For this exhibition I have been working on two particular themes: my interest in environmental changes in landscape due to climate change, and the re-establishment of orchards around the country. Changes in landscape due to flood control in the Aire valley and its watershed provide new images and patterns in the landscape. Drainage channels in fields, and the rebogging of moorland, the flooding on the valley fields and removal of raised riverbanks, tree planting on the steep valley hillsides, the re-emergence of scrubland as farmland is abandoned. I started to draw orchards 10 years ago: visits to Parceval Hall nr Appletreewick, North Yorkshire have been particularly poignant as this is a place we visit at times of distress and convalescence, and my drawings have been focused on my delight with the new plantings in the orchard. Over the years I have discovered more orchards newly planted in sun-trapping corners of Devon fields or planted around the remnants of older trees..  

Making ceramic pieces that contain a strong narrative is challenging. I don’t expect others to be interested in my inner thoughts, and often the connection occurs around a common interest in generic landscape, or trees, or birds. But for me it provides a focus around which I can play with pattern and colour, emotional response and sensuality.'

Each piece is finished with a transparent lead based glaze and fired to 1090ºC.

About Anna

Anna studied 3D design and ceramics at Bath Academy of Art and University of Central Lancashire. A full time maker since 1980, her many solo exhibitions include The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh; Contemporary Ceramics, Centre, London and galleries in Europe and USA.  She exhibits regularly at major ceramics fairs such as Ceramic Art London.

Anna is also a part time lecturer (MA Ceramics, UcLan) and occasionally runs short courses.