Steph Jamieson

Steph lives and works in Northumberland. Steph Jamieson works with smoke and fire to create her simple ceramic sculptures.

Stephs main concern is in form rather than function and her unique ceramics are inspired by travels in remote regions of the world and her interest in archaeology, geology and astronomy which remain a constant source of experiment and influence in her work.

The ceramics, hand built from white stoneware are left to reach the leather hard stage, when they are altered, carved or decorated.A fine slip is painted onto the fossil and carefully burnished with a spoon until there is a smooth unblemished shiny surface. Biscuit firing to a low temperature of between 960-1000 degrees centigrade will retain the burnish, but give the work the strength to go through its second but more unpredictable firing.

Smoke firing in a sawdust kiln using organic materials and oxides provide the more random effect of the surface decoration.

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