Ted Hughes and Remains of Elmet

I first came across the Elmet series of poems by Ted Hughes when I was writing my BA Fine Art dissertation on 'Representation of the South Pennines' and they immediately struck a chord, echoing many of the themes that I was already pursuing in my own studio practice; the landscape, people and villages of the area and the sense of steady decline in the old industries. He was writing as someone born into the Pennine community of nearby Todmorden; I was seeing the area with the eyes of an 'incomer' - albeit of 25 years duration.

The original book was illustrated by Fay Godwin's photographs and although I thought them interesting, I found different images coming into my mind as I read the poems.
This year I have finally begun a project that I fleetingly considered then, and have been exploring my own ceramic interpretations. I hope that you will find them interesting.


Keith Sagar has written an excellent article on Ted Hughes and the Calder Valley which describes his links with the area and the gestation and inspiration behind Remains of Elmet.

The text only version of Remains of Elmet is published by Faber & Faber

Not quite as planned

Sometimes things don't go as planned but can be quite interesting despite that. 

The Trance of Light
- it is approximately 40cm tall

It features screenprinted images of mills and
machinery, plus the textures of fabic, stone,
setts and cogs

This piece was made for theSDC at the Mall Exhibition and was based on the Ted Hughes poem, the Trance of Light which is about the decline of industry in the Pennines and a return to nature. 

As usual I was pushing the clay to its limits and this time it broke in the firing - but actually - for me it gives a further dimension to the theme...

At the Mall Galleries

A busy start - this was the opening morning in the main gallery

One of the best things that I did at the time of my graduation from Bradford College was to sign up for the assessment for Licentiate Membership of the Society of Designer Craftsmen.

It was nerve racking at the time as it involved an in depth interview with one of the Fellows of the society, Pete Moss, that was both challenging and stimulating - and then the nervous wait to see if I had been accepted. When the letter came to say that not only had I been, but that mine was an Award with Merit which entitled me to show at their annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London, I was over the moon - and then scared out of my wits at the same time! Three years on and I have just come back from the set up and launch of this years event but for the second year as part of the organising team! (My own fault for letting on that I knew how to operate a computer!)

My display in the main gallery. The theme of
this years work is the 'Remains of Elmet' series of poems
by Ted Hughes about the Pennines and Calderdale

This year there are over 130 artists and craftspeople showing their work in the exhibition and shop within the show and the standard of the craftsmanship across the disciplines is amazing - as is the variety of the work! 

Almost a quarter of those showing this year are ceramicists and yet each is using different styles and techniques. If any of you are around in London, it is open until the 20th January and well worth a visit.