Gill Banks

Crystalline glazed decorative vessels at Chloris Ceramics

At the heart of my work is a desire to create objects that invite both contemplation and interaction, pieces that carry with them the memory of wild places and the serenity found in nature’s rhythms. The crystalline glazes I use are central to this vision. Each firing is a collaboration with chemistry and chance, resulting in surfaces where crystals bloom across the glaze—unique, unrepeatable, and evocative of frost, minerals, or petals under glass. These glazes make every piece a one-of-a-kind landscape, forever capturing a fleeting, crystalline moment.

Each piece is glazed by hand with formulas I have refined through experimentation, and the kiln becomes a crucible where crystals form, grow, and reveal their hidden architecture.

Clay is a living material and for me, it is the most honest conduit to express my connection with nature. Every piece I create is an intimate conversation between earth and inspiration, echoing the intricate beauty found in the natural world. My practice is rooted in observation: the changing colour of a leaf, the shimmer of bright light on water, the geometry of crystals forming in stone. These moments fuel my vision and are brought to life through the transformative magic of crystalline glazes.