Approved: 16.08.2006

Fiona Thompson

Artist, Maker, Writer

Approved: 16.08.2006

I graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1994, and completed an M.Phil (post graduate research degree) at the University of Sunderland in 2010.I have exhibited widely in the UK and further afield, with work available through various quality galleries. I am a professional member of the Craft Potters Association. Residencies are a big part of my practice, and I also work to commission. Teaching experience includes at universities and colleges, community arts work and adult education. I have had a couple of articles published in ceramic and tourism journals, and have co-authored a chapter in 'Travel, Tourism and Art' published 2013. In 2012 I set up a social enterprise ceramic studio and teaching facility in Edinburgh with partner Chris Donnelly- Cyan Clayworks. We offer courses, artist project support and other ceramic services. 

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News

     

    Artist Statement

    I graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1994, and completed an M.Phil (post graduate research degree) at the University of Sunderland in 2010.I have exhibited widely in the UK and further afield, with work available through various quality galleries. I am a professional member of the Craft Potters Association. Residencies are a big part of my practice, and I also work to commission. Teaching experience includes at universities and colleges, community arts work and adult education. I have had a couple of articles published in ceramic and tourism journals, and have co-authored a chapter in 'Travel, Tourism and Art' published 2013. In 2012 I set up a social enterprise ceramic studio and teaching facility in Edinburgh with partner Chris Donnelly- Cyan Clayworks. We offer courses, artist project support and other ceramic services. 

    The non-functional vessel is my main focus. Work in recent years explored travel narratives,  the souvenir and the photograph. The pieces developed were, in a sense, personal souvenirs. Travel is often simultaneously a heightened, enjoyable experience, overloaded with visual stimulation; combined with a sense of displacement and unreality. The everyday can be familiar and yet unfamiliar.

    Other series explore themes of authenticity, display and collection within the natural history collection.The image of an animal is potentially evocative, loaded with multiple meanings. I am interested in the transformation of the animals; they have become representations, symbols, altered versions of their former selves. They are fixed in time; frozen into a chosen pose that convinces the viewer of their original context, their display cabinets a new setting. 

    The work is handbuilt in stoneware clay, previously earthenware. Imagery is built up in layers through brushed and monoprinted slips. Images and text are monoprinted and or screen printed. Photographic transfers (decals) are applied, with lustures on selected pieces. 

     

    CV & Education

    Exhibitions

     

    2022 - ‘The story beneath the surface’ Union Gallery, Edinburgh, 2-person show

    2022 - ‘An Ode to Summer’, Tatha Gallery, Dundee, group show

    2020 - ‘Nine Create’ Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh, group show

    2017 - ‘Shades of Clay’ Kunsthuis Gallery, N. Yorks, group show

    2015, 17 &18 - Edinburgh Art Fair with Saorsa Gallery, Edinburgh

    2015 - 'MAKE15', Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Devon

    2014 - ‘Selected’, Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh

    2013 - Ceramics Biennale, Kapfenberg, Austria

    2012 - Belgian Ceramics Biennale, Centre culturel d’Andenne, Andenne

    2011 - Future Craft, Novia Scotia College of Art & Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    2011 - Inside-Out, Galerie des KULturZentrums Kapfenberg, Kapfenberg, Austria

    2009 - 10degreesN/10degreesS Design Exchange, The Sage, Gateshead

    2009 - Souvenirs from behind the scenes, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh

    2009 - Ceramic Art London, Royal College of Art, London

    2007 - CPA @ 50, The Gallery at Bevere, Worcester

    2007 - Going Places, Riverhouse Barn, Henley on Thames

    2007 - READesign, commissioned by Inspire, Mobile touring exhibition.

    2006 - Solo show-new work, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh 

    2004 - ....Ten years on, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh

    2003 - Showcase, Contemporary Ceramics, London

    2004 - 1st European Ceramics Competition, New Town hall, Amaroussion, Greece

    2004 - First Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Taipei County Yingee Ceramic Museum, Taipei, Taiwan 2003 - New Member Focus, Contemporary Applied Arts, London

    2001 - Painterly Pots, Brewery Arts, Cirencester 

    2000 - Source, Royal Museum, Edinburgh

    1999 - The Plate Show, Collins Gallery, Glasgow

    1998 - Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh Group exhibitions

    1997 - Art Rages, Amsterdam

    1997 - British Work House Gallery, Dallas, USA

    Curated projects

    2008 - 10 degrees N/10 degrees S - design exchange, Exhibition at Sage, Newcastle Oct 09; St. Etienne, Dec09, Newcastle upon Tyne & St. Etienne, France

    Residencies

    2014 Artist in residence, Medalta, Alberta, Canada

    2010 - Craft Bursary creative development project, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee

    2007 - Guest Artist in Residence, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, USA

    2005 - Artist in residence, University of Sunderland, Sunderland

    Commissions

    2009 - Award piece commissioned for Gaelic Ambassador of the year

    2009, Scottish Government, Scotland

    2006 - Award pieces for Arts & Business Scotland - Annual Awards

    2006, Edinburgh Publications

    2011 - Producing Ceramic Art Through Tourism Research, Annals of Tourism Research

    2011 - The Tourist Experience, Ceramic Review, issue 248

    Other

    2011 - Work purchased for Future Craft Collection, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee

    2011 - Work purchased for Museum Collections, University of Dundee, Dundee

    2011 - 'Producing Ceramic Art Works Through Tourism Research' co authored by Kevin Hannam and Kevin Petrie, Annals of Tourism Research, vol 39

    2013 - 'Hunting the Touristic Animal through Ceramic Art in Alberta, Canada', co authored by Kevin Hannam, in 'Travel, Tourism and Art (ed T.Rakic & J.Lester)