Contemporary decorative ceramics
ABOUT ME
'What's on my workbench?'
As part of London Craft Week 21 I was interviewed in my studio as I shared 'what is on my workbench along with 5 other Design Nation members. Click here to see the recording, I am the third artist being interviewed that morning about 20 minutes into the film. Enjoy!
SARAH BURTON
SARAH BURTON - POTTERY
​
Contemporary decorative ceramics
Each piece of pottery I make brings together my love of working with clay and my experiences of travel and hiking. I love looking at the details around me: the patterns in nature; the veins on a leaf; the rhythm of seaweed moving with the waves in the sea; the pattern on the back of sea urchins. And the man made influences producing their own patterns: - furrows ploughed into a field ready for sewing seeds; the patchwork of fields divided by stonewalls or hedges; regular patterns of red clay bricks of an old barn clad with a corrugated roof with abstract splashes of colour from the lichen and moss clinging to the surfaces....
The vessels I make are a canvas for colourful glazes where I hand paint abstract designs in blues, turquoises and greys of the North Wales coast or the more earthy tones of burnt oranges, beiges, yellows, greens and whites from the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire arable countryside. I like to also use textures on the surfaces, especially the coastal inspired vessels: barnacles, crevices and layers of clay added to coiled or wheel thrown bowls and vases….. and the slab built vessels with furrows carved into the surface of the clay.....
I also enjoy making more sculptural work: fish, dragons, pears and apples. Each piece is individually hand made using a combination of pinching, slab building and throwing depending on the piece. I particularly like to see how my fish develop their own expression
​
Galleries
I sell my work in galleries and exhibitions around the UK and you will find a selection of my work in the shop on this website which will take you to my Etsy shop. I also take commissions so please get in touch if you would like to discuss with me about a project you have in mind.
​
Mailing list
If you would like to go onto my mailing list to keep up to date about my courses, exhibitions and stockists please send me a message asking to be added to my mailing list or click below.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Design-Nation 2012 - present
Coordinator for Design Nation Nottingham members group 2016-2023
​
Craft Potters Association (associate member) 2019 - 2022
​
Nottingham Society of Artists (Fellow member) 2007 - present
Co-Chair to the Fellows
Check out my YouTube Channel and watch me making pots in my studio
EXHIBITIONS 2011 - present
2023
- Small Pictures exhibition at Nottingham Society of Artists gallery 29 November - 10 December 71 Friar Lane Nottingham
​
- Autumn members exhibition Nottingham Nottingham Society of Artists gallery 29 November - 10 December 71 Friar Lane Nottingham
​
2022
​- Nottingham Society of Artists exhibitions throughout the year
​
2021
- London Craft Week Multi Talented showcase by members of Design-Nation 4-10 October 2021
- NSofA members Spring exhibition Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery Friar Lane Nottingham
​
2019
- NSofA members Spring exhibition Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery Friar Lane Nottingham
- 'Connections' Karlsruhe/Nottingham collaboration GEDOK gallery Karlsruhe Germany
- ‘Pots and Pictures II’ - an exhibition of ceramics, wooden pictures and figurative paintings and drawings by Sarah Burton, Phil Harrison and Elaine ChipChase and Martin Locker, Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery Friar Lane Nottingham
- 'Connections' Nottingham/Karlsruhe collaboration Lakeside Gallery Shop Showcase University of Nottingham
- SOCK Winter Open Exhibition 2019 Sock Gallery
- Small Pictures Exhibition members, Nottingham Society of artists gallery Friar Lane Nottingham
2018
- ‘Pots and Pictures’ Exhibition Nottingham with figurative painter Phil Harrison and wooden pictures by Elaine ChipChase
- Marvellous Materials Exhibition, Nottingham. Design Factory members
- Nottingham Society of Artists members exhibitions throughout the year
2017
- ‘Makers Dozen’ Exhibition, Nottingham. Collaboration with 12 other members of Design Factory Nottingham
- Nottingham Society of Artists members exhibitions throughout the year
2015
- ‘Contours’ Exhibition, Nottingham. Collaboration with Derbyshire artists Martin Sloman and Ruth Grey Nottingham
​
- 'Synchronise II' Collaboration Exhibition with Samantha Robinson as part of the exhibition by members of The Design Factory - now Design Nation at the Centre for Craft and Design - now The Hub at Sleaford
- Nottingham Society of Artists members exhibitions throughout the year
2013
- ‘Sea 3’ Exhibition, Nottingham. Collaboration with potter Judy Adams and textile artist Mel Anderson Nottingham
- Nottingham Society of Artists members exhibitions throughout the year
2012
- Exhibition, Sharpes Pottery museum, Swadlincote
- Nottingham Society of Artists members exhibitions throughout the year
2011
- ‘Ceramics, Scenes and Stitches’ Exhibition with Textile artist Lydia Solomon Nottingham
- Solo Exhibition at Cotehele Gallery, Cornwall
- Solo Exhibition, Millgate Museum, Newark
OPEN STUDIOS
2022
- Open Studios Nottingham 2022 in my studio and online
2021
- Nottingham Open Studios virtual event
2020
- Nottingham Open Studios virtual event
TRADE AND CRAFT FAIRS 2011 - present
2023
- Let's Make Christmas Derby Museum and Art Gallery 28 October - 29 December The Strand Derby DE1 1BS
​
- Radcliffe on Trent Christmas Fair 29 November The Grange, Vicarage Lane Radcliffe on Trent Nottingham NG12 2FB
​
Papplewick Pumping Station Christmas Fair 2 & 3 December Papplewick Pumping Station, Rigg Lane Ravenshead Nottingham NG15 9AJ
​
2017 - 2019
- Craft in the City Waterstones Bookstore Nottingham Annual Christmas fair
2012 - 2016
- Patchings Art Centre Summer Art Festival Nottinghamshire Annual Art Festival
2013
- British Craft Trade Fair BCTF Harrogate
2012
- Merge Contemporary Oundle
2011
- Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey, Devon
​
COMMISSIONS
I take commissions so please get in touch if you would like to discuss a project you have in mind. Send me an email to sarahburtonpottery@gmail.com with a brief outline of what you are thinking and some indication of your budget. I will get back to you as soon as I can to let you know if I think it is something I can do for you and timescales etc
​
Memorial vase in memory of the late Vicar at St John’s Church, Carlton, Nottingham