JEN

Working mainly in ceramics and photography, I create unique and individual pieces with a hint of storytelling. Using bold colour contrasts, irony and contradiction, my work creates a narrative, sometimes dark, often humerius, but always contrary.

I am a neurodivergent, disabled and queer artist working in ceramics. My work is often quite literal and covers themes of genders, mental health and difference.

I am very passionate about community art projects and love working with community groups to introduce clay and creativity to communities, having access to arts and culture is vital to wellbeing and I believe everyone can better know themselves and each other through participation in arts.

I have worked with several community groups on socially engaged practice or social prescribing by the NHS, including: Artlink in Hull; Absolutely Cultured; Townend Court NHS in Hull; SHOUT Youth Group @ The Warren, Hull; Starlight Arts in Scunthorpe; Bricktree Gallery Makers in Caistor; and 20-21 Visual Arts Centre. I have exhibited in Humber Street Gallery in Hull; Sam Scorer Gallery in Lincoln; The Ropewalk in Barton-Upon-Humber; the Ferens in Hull; Harding House in Lincoln and 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in Scunthorpe.

I went to university in 2005 after being inspired by an evening course at the local adult education centre, I graduated from Lincoln University in 2008 with a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Decorative Crafts specialising in Ceramics. I also have an MA in Museum Studies from Leicester University with Distinction.

Please contact me to arrange a workshop or session.

💚💚💚 Environmental Committment: 💚💚💚

At Quite Contrary Pottery we strive to be as green as we can, we buy only local supplies where possible and reuse old packaging instead of buying new. This means packages are not as pretty on the outside but it’s what’s inside that counts right?

We are a paperless business, all documentation is digital, and we actually go one step further and reuse old paper and newspapers in our production process!

The clay itself is a natural resource and is originally extracted from the ground. We use only non-toxic glazes that are food (and animal) safe. We use as little green electric as needed and only fire the kiln when full.
The making process is very low-tech as we hand build all our pottery. The process produces no waste as all ‘offcuts’ are reused or turned into slip and used to make new pottery.

It is very important to us that we are a green business and consider the environment in all our decisions.