Helen Rondell
2026 – Taking part in Potfest by the Lake – Compton Verney
My sculptural pieces are all hand coiled. Each piece is built over several days and steadily grow and evolve into an individual unique form, curving and flowing causing shadows and openings within, exploring the negative space. Initially inspired from my travels of Southwestern United States, by the breathtaking landscapes, particularly drawn to the rock formations of Arizona and Utah, and intrigued by the Pueblo Potteries of New Mexico.
More recently my work has become more figurative as the relationships between my children and myself develop. Being a mum of identical twins, I became very intrigued watching them grow and become two very different people, notions of nature over nurture are fascinating. I wanted to bring this across in my work, particularly the ‘Entwined’ series. All the pieces evolve from the same beginnings, but they take on very different forms during the making process – culminating in the Raku firing which adds the definitive touch of individuality.
All my work is burnished, and raku fired using the ‘naked raku’ technique. It was during my time studying, my love for raku firing was ignited. The speed and unpredictable of the firing is really exciting. The surface is very tactile, smooth, and soft because of the low firing, the crazing lines formed through raku firing can often add to the form.
I established my ceramic studio 2001, after studying ceramics at North Staffordshire University in Stoke-on-Trent, gaining a BA (Hons) in Ceramics in 1995. Over the years I’ve exhibited at many ceramic fairs and galleries around the UK. In 2014 I was accepted as a Selected Member of the Craft Potters Association. In the same year I began teaching ceramics part-time at The Ceramic Studio, Kent