Help preserve our future
West Dean is part of a registered charity and relies on the support of generous donors, friends, legacies to help us deliver world-class education in conservation and the creative arts and maintain our award-winning gardens.
Claire Ireland
An established ceramicist, Claire produces hand-built, elegant, sculptural forms on different scales. She uses her unique studio location at the London Museum of Water and Steam to inspire her work. An experienced tutor, she specialises in contemporary ways of making. She is a professional member of the Craft Potters Association
Describe your approach to teaching:
I work in a very practical, direct way. I use examples and
demonstrations of techniques and methods of making, which is a
great way to illustrate such a diverse medium.
What inspires your own work?
I have looked at painters and sculptors for ideas throughout my
career. David Nash's shows at Tate St Ives and Kew Gardens were
inspirational. Drawing for me is crucial part of the process.