Hilary Coole
Hilary is a contemporary ceramic artist producing vessels and functional ware using the process of hand built, slip decorated stoneware slabs. A lifelong career as a graphic designer, coupled with an interest in surface pattern design have influenced Hilarys current body of work. The thematic focus of the work is specifically inspired by her mothers clothing that featured vibrant 1950s patterns which are captured in her work from memories of her mother and old family photographs. This reflective thinking of home and a sense of place led her into translating the form and pattern of her mothers garments into clay. She uses slips, paper resist and sgraffito onto the clay then constructs vessels from these highly decorated slabs.
Her intention is to evoke the fun, emotion and utopian aims of the 1950s in contrast to post war austerity producing colourful, sculptural and contemporary interpretations of an influential era in her life.
Hilary graduated from Carmarthen School of Art with a first class BA (Hons) degree in Ceramics and won the Craft&Design One to Watch award at New Designers 2015. She has exhibited widely including The Mall Galleries, Living Crafts, Ferrers Gallery and Art In Clay Hatfield 2017. She works from home in West Wales where her work can also be viewed by appointment.
Hilarys work is also available at:
- Oriel Mimosa Gallery, Llandeilo www.orielmimosa.com
- King Street Gallery, Carmarthen www.kingstreetgallery.co.uk
Hilary Coole Ceramics, Farmers Arms, Llanfynydd, Carmarthen SA32 7TG
