John Struthers

A stalwart of British contemporary and abstract ceramics - John graduated from Falmouth School of Art, moved into a teaching career, then moved to Orkney in 1985. Where he set up his workshop and gallery in Burray, by the shores of Scapa Flow.

Highland gallery visitors can now welcome the first appearance of John's work following a successful showing in the "Scottish Islands" Exhibition, at the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh.
Johns, mostly semi-functional and often abstract, pieces evolve from an appreciation of coastal and marine environments; influences from Neolithic and pre-history artefacts, natural forms and 20th century modernism - all resources which the Orkney Islands offer in abundance.
This is a rare opportunity to see a particular collection of his works - "Thinking of a Handle" - from a skilled practitioner, whose work has been shown at the internationally acclaimed Pier Arts Centre in Orkney, exhibited widely throughout Europe and in public and private collections world wide.

Patricia Shone BA(Hons) Three- Dimensional Design

Talisker Prize for the Applied Arts, Skye and Lochalsh Open
Just Art Gallery, Fochabers, Morayshire
selected show at National Museum Of Scotland
Solo Show- An Tuireann Arts Centre, Portree
Peter Potter Gallery, Haddington, Lothian
Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen

I am interested in how we live within a landscape and the paths we take. The work I make, how it stands on a shelf, the space it occupies, helps me make sense of my own place here. The Raku pots are made by coiling and press moulding. I like the methodical processes involved which allow the form to develop as the piece progresses. Scraping reveals textures in the clay, which I develop with layers of slip. I enjoy the direct contact with the process of transforming clay into ceramic and the unpredictability of the results which Raku allows. It is a fast and immediate technique which contrasts nicely with the slow and measured process of making coiled pots.

Robyn Kennedy MA Honours Fine Art

Selected Awards and Exhibitions

Awards -
Edinburgh University Travel Bursary
Finalist, Richard Ford Scholarship, Royal Academy of London

Selected Exhibitions
Christies, London;
Athol Gallery, Dunkeld;
Highland Festival Exhibition, Inverness;
Glasgow Art Fair;
“New Scottish Paintings”, Gallery47, London;
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness;
Lybster Gallery, Caithness;
Northlands festival, Sweden/Denmark