Jane Sheppard British, b. 1966
I’ve been a ceramicist for 30 years, as a practitioner and lecturer. My work is coiled and smokefired. I love these primal and immediate ways of working; ancient practices that connect me deeply with the earth and our ancestors through meditative combination of vision and touch.
My work is an ongoing inquiry into the universal heart of beauty and the power of objects. It concerns layers of time and human experience. Inevitably that pulls into the realm of context, culture and prejudice; in our society and within myself. It pulls me to listen to the earth and our ancestral voices.
Awards
1999 British Council/ Potters Association of Namibia
1998 South West Arts Craft Award
Publications and features
Tile Envy (edited by Deborah Osburn) ISBN 978-1-908714-LL-4
‘How I became a Tile Maker’ four-page editorial on Mud Hut Company Homes and Gardens January 2014 p28-31
Period Living February 2013 p110
Period Living August 2011 p93
‘Searching for the Spirit’ Ceramic Review 1999
product placement cover of Dulux Colour Guide January 2006
Recent exhibitions
‘Avebury’ Bath Artists’ Studios 2019
‘Body:Art’ Black Swan Arts Frome 2019
Past exhibitions
Gallery 57, Cork St, London 1999(curated by Kate Chertavian Fine Art)
Patterns of the Past, Sherborne House Dorset 2000
Four Come to St Ives 1999
St James’ Gallery, Bath 1998
Qualifications and Employment
July 2020 – present full time ceramicist
2019-20 Faculty member, OneSpirit interfaith foundation.
2019 Founder member of Black Swan Guild, Frome.
Listener for Samaritans and volunteer compassionate companion (end of life) for Dorothy House, Bath.
2018 Ordained as Onespirit Interfaith Minister
2009 established Mud Hut Company (artisan tiles) featured in House and Garden, Period Living magazines with commissions from California, Canada and Zurich.
1993-2009 Lecturer in Art and Design at Bath College. Subject leader for Ceramics and Lead Tutor for Creative Arts. Diverse curriculum planning and delivery at all levels, ages and abilities. Included ceramics, print, surface pattern, painting, drawing and joint delivery of Foundation Certificate in Art Therapy for 6 years. Held alongside professional ceramics career facilitated by Kate Chertavian; previously David Bowies’ art agent.
1999 guest artist and judge at PAN annual exhibition, delivering workshops at University of Namibia and Kalahari desert
1998 sabbatical year researching the spiritual use of ceramics, East to South Africa.
1998 Foundation Certificate in Art Therapy, Bath College
1991-92 Ceramics Technician, Bath College
1990 handbuilding and smokefiring workshop with Jane Perryman
1989 BEd honours degree Bath College of Higher Education
1987 Diploma in Higher Education Art and Religious Studies/ multicultural education)
1984 A levels – Art, Religious Studies, English