Crafts showcases

Our art department regularly creates displays of work by local craftspeople, many of which are organised in partnership with the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Find out more about what's currently on show, as well as some of the showcases we've had in the past.

Blue and white: July to September 2011

Our most recent showcase featured work by three members of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen and demonstrated a variety of techniques and materials. The showcase featured raw glazed stoneware by Fran Benatt; silk painted textiles by Isabella Whitworth and free blown glass by Siddy Langley. All the works on display were linked by the theme of blue and white - a colour scheme that features strongly in our permanent decorative art collections.

Creative metalwork: May to June 2011

This display featured work by three members of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen: Lizzie Sanders, a jeweller and metalworker; Janine Partington, who makes clean, contemporary designs in enamel, and James Kendrew, an apprentice-trained blacksmith who makes functional objects for the home and one-off commissioned objects.

Contemporary Glass: February to May 2011

This display featured work by members of staff from Plymouth College of Art. It provided a great complement to a display of historic glass from our permanent collections and our contemporary glass commission, 'Lens' by Glenn Carter.

John Pollex: October 2010 to January 2011

Potter, John Pollex has been based in Plymouth since 1971 and this display featured a selection of his work from his early traditional slipware to his more recent colourful earthenware.

Making Waves: July to October 2010

This fun, sea-inspired display of ceramics by Devon Guild members Laurel Keeley, Malcolm Law and Penny Simpson, took its lead from our summer 2010 maritime-themed exhibition, 'Tales from the Sea'.

Contemporary Porcelain: May to July 2010

This display featured the work of Devon Guild of Craftsmen members, Philippa De Burlet, Tim Gee, Christine-Ann Richards and Elizabeth Smith. It contained original pieces made from porcelain and bone china - all of which demonstrated the different technical aspects of working with this difficult but beautiful material. The display provided a lovely contemporary complement to the historical Plymouth and Bristol porcelain in our Atrium Gallery.

Doug Fitch: November 2009 to April 2010

Devon-based potter, Doug Fitch specialises in slip decoration using clays from the local area and cites Clive Bowen, Svend Bayer and Michael Cardew as his main influences. His pots featured the tones and textures of the countryside thanks to the natural materials used to create them, their unfussy styles and earthy colours.