"My sculptural ceramics are rooted in the raw beauty and elemental energy of the Dorset coastline, where land meets sea and nature reveals both its fragility and force. Each of my three bodies of work—seagrass sculptures, barrel-fired forms, and tide line pieces—reflects a different aspect of this dynamic environment, while together they speak to the urgent need to reconnect with and protect the natural world.
The seagrass sculptures capture the quiet resilience and flowing movement of underwater meadows swaying beneath Dorset’s coastal waters. Their sinuous, organic forms and earthy glazes reflect the intricate relationships between land and sea, seen and unseen. Seagrass meadows not only shelter marine life but also sequester carbon at a rate far greater than tropical rainforests. These pieces invite reflection on the beauty and ecological importance of these fragile ecosystems, and the threats they face from human activity.
In my barrel-fired sculptures, I work with the four elemental forces—earth, air, fire, and water—to evoke the spirit of the Jurassic Coast. The firing process, unpredictable and transformative, mirrors nature’s ability to both build and erode. Each piece bears the unique imprint of flame and smoke, embodying the windswept cliffs, shifting tides, and undulating terrain that define the Dorset landscape.
The tide line series explores the contrasts created by wind and wave—the rough and smooth, the worn and the weathered. Working with grogged stoneware clay, I abrade and burnish surfaces to reflect the tactile interplay between erosion and restoration. These textures echo the ceaseless dialogue between land and sea, capturing both the harmony and tension of natural forces in motion.
By blending ancient hand-building techniques with contemporary concerns for the environment, my work aims to evoke a sense of connection to coastal landscapes, their forms, and their rhythms. Through these pieces, I hope to inspire contemplation of the delicate balance between nature’s beauty and its vulnerability and our responsibility to sustain it."
Exhibiting in Dorset galleries and nationwide events, we're thrilled to be showing David's beautiful, unique ceramics in our Summer Show, all created in his studio in Poole, Dorset.