International Pottery Stars To Appear In Wrexham For Ceramic Wales Arts Festival

International pottery stars will descend on Wrexham for one of the country’s top art festivals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More than 50 designer makers are to exhibit and sell their work at this year’s Ceramic Wales event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Held from September 2-4 at Wrexham Glyndwr University’s School of Creative Arts, the line-up includes Guy Routledge, Niek Hoogland, Christy Keeney, Mark Smith and organisers Wendy Lawrence and Wayne Clarke. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cerys Alonso, Programme Leader in Applied Arts, said to host such a prestigious gathering of the discipline’s most respected names at Regent Street is a “major coup” for the School, which was ranked number one in Wales and 12th in the UK in the recent Guardian University Guide. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is a major coup for Wrexham Glyndwr to have so many of the industry’s standard-bearers display their collections here,” said Cerys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as exhibiting and selling work, we will have demonstrations, talks and workshops, trade stands, installations, a barbecue and plenty for families and children to enjoy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is one of the most important dates in the diary for us and we look forward to Ceramic Wales 2016 being the best ever.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The free festival will also allow visitors the opportunity to chat with the artists and take part in demonstrations and workshops. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Among the speakers will be Dave Binns, Moira Vincentelli and Margaret Brampton. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The School of Creative Arts here in Wrexham is a vibrant and creative community with strong international and professional connections,” said Cerys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our students experiment and develop their creative talents in a supportive and inspiring environment, so this will be of great interest to not only the public and art lovers, but to prospective students too.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She added: “We offer jewellery, glass, ceramics and mixed media (wood/plastics) and our graduates go on to be independent makers in all of the craft disciplines, as well as in other fields such as design, therapy and teaching. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many people are still amazed you can do a degree in these areas, but it’s a fabulous sector and one more people are becoming interested in, which is why we are so thrilled to be hosting Ceramic Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jane Williams from Dyffryn Ardudwy, a semi-finalist in BBC Two’s Great Pottery Throwdown, is also among the guests. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said: “I’m so excited and chuffed to be taking part in this exhibition. I hope lots of people will come by and say hello.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fellow exhibitor and internationally-recognised potter, Meri Wells, added: “The standard of makers at Ceramic Wales is really high. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There is a variety of lectures, demos and informative activities, all for free and out of the rain! This is a chance to buy a unique piece of ceramic art, whether to look at or eat your cornflakes off.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​