Amanda Ray

Amanda Ray was born in 1965 and is originally from Surrey, but has spent most of her life in St Ives.  In 1992, whilst managing St Ives Ceramics for John Bedding, she was given the opportunity to learn raku firing.  Combining this technique with silversmithing, she began designing and producing a range of jewellery.  In 1995 she moved to her own workshop in order to concentrate on making.  Whilst the geometric lines mainly refer to the art deco period, other ideas are drawn from local contemporary paintings and sculpture, present as well as past.  The surrounding landscape and coastline, with its ever changing colours, are reflected by the use of many vibrant pigments and a range of designs using earthier tones over textured surfaces were inspired whilst travelling in Australia.  The bisqued pieces are glazed using silver nitrate with coloured stains and fired to red heat.  Quickly removing them from the kiln into tins of paper and woodchippings, they immediately self-ignite.  The flames transform the glazes to create a highly lustrous finish, whilst areas left unglazed are carbonized by the smoke to provide a dark matt and contrasting surface.  A member of the Cornwall Craft Association since 1993, the range of earrings, brooches and necklaces, as well as smaller editions of jewellery boxes and framed tiles, are exhibited widely throughout the British Isles.  She has also exhibited in Australia and America.  In 2005 Amanda was invited to work as studio assistant to Pietro Maddelana at La Meridiana Centre For Ceramics In Tuscany, where she had attended courses the previous summer.  She spent 5 months helping to run the workshops whilst also being encouraged to develop her own work.  On her return in the autumn she joined the Gaolyard Studios.

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