Rachel Padley

My career as an artist began in 1976 when, on leaving school, I went to work as a stone carver at St. Pauls Cathedral in London. I subsequently went on to obtain an honors degree in sculpture at Kennington School of Art. I then continued my career working as a conservator of ancient monuments at, among other places, Arundel Castle and Harewood House. The progression to ceramics came 10 years ago, when I learned how to throw on the potters wheel and how to create vessels from slabs of clay. 

I now produce a range of sculptural pieces for the garden, which include my Green Man series, Flora, Bacchus and others. My domestic ware is finished with colourful glazes and then fired in an electric kiln. My work is influenced by my interest in old buildings, particularly churches, and a love of nature and the countryside. 

Recent exhibitions: 

• Jinny Ring Sculpture Trail Aug 24th- Sept. 18th 2011 
• Albany Gallery Cardiff Summer Exhibition 2011 
• Three Choirs Festival Designer makers Exhibition 2009, 10, 11 
• Bevere Gallery Sculpture Trail 2009, 10, 11 
• Aberystwyth International Ceramics Festival 2007, 09, 11 
• Oriel CRiC Colour and Light June 2011 
• Showbourough Affordable Garden Art 2010, 11 
• Albany gallery Cardiff Christmas Exhibition 2011 
• Worcester Museum and Art Gallery Dec. 2011 
• Oriel CRiC Christmas exhibition 2011 

Permanent exhibitions include: 

• The Bevere Gallery
• Worcester Blue Ginger
•  Cradley Beacons Gallery