Jude’s Heart and Soul Ceramics
Art Forms
Ceramics, Sculpture
Exhibition and News
Hever Castle Craft In Focus 15 -18th May 2025
Biography
So, I am Jude, proud ceramicist and creator of Jude’s Heart and Soul Ceramics, founded in 2022.
Although I am very new to ceramics, I am lucky enough to have had a creative streak all my life, enjoying colour and form from a very young age. I had a very creative mother who encouraged the arts. Her particular passion was for textiles, teaching me to embroider, dress make, spin and knit. This led to a rather eccentric, yet enriching childhood.
These earlier influences are often reflected now in my ceramic work. Nods to my mother’s passions feature on many of my pieces from clay buttons to fabric imprints particularly on my porcelain pieces. It is largely her influence that initially produced the cohesive ‘style’ to my designs.
So from these early influences, I have grown in confidence, feeling able to embrace different techniques and materials as well as incorporating other influences. I am lucky enough to live in the heart of the Ashdown Forest which is often reflected in my designs. The flora and fauna collected from my studio garden can be found impressed into my porcelain pieces with the images carved into my thrown bowls, jugs and mugs heavily influenced by the forest.
I thoroughly enjoy carving the sgraffito illustrations on some of my hand thrown pieces. These are designed and created in my head and the directly carved free hand, which makes the process even more magical as the design takes shape and comes to life.
Aside from my hand thrown pieces, my porcelain hand builds are a fun reflection of my whimsical imagination. The fairy house lights are built to look like fabric, with an organic feel and have become ever more detailed with little porcelain snails and ladybirds adorning many pieces. Impressed with flora from my garden, these pieces come to life at night as the light shines through the thin porcelain. These pieces are a joy to make, each one individual.
As you can see, in a short space of time, I have become completely absorbed with clay and love every process. I look forward to what the future holds.
