Sue gained a degree in Glass and Ceramics at Stourbridge College of Art in the 1970's. Following her interest in Ikebana and Japanese gardens, she began to concentrate on ceramics, focussing on inlayed porcelain vases, Parallel to these themes she developed large-scale stone sculptural forms which could be placed within the environment. Inspired by the landscape and a strong affinity with standing stones, the individual pieces have a great feeling of timelessness and purity of sculptural form.
As well as exhibiting widely in galleries in the U.K. Sue teaches ceramics in Birmingham and often runs workshops where "Mishima" (inlay) techniques are demonstrated.
"Ikebana" is the Japanese art of arranging flowers aesthetically where a sense of balance is created between the three elements - sky, earth and man.
"Mishima (Inlay):- 'This was the name given by the Japanese to Korean Ware imported to Japan between 918-1392 A.D.' An incised line is cut into 'leather hard' porcelain. The grooves are then filled proud with stained porcelain slip, once this has stiffened the piece is painstakingly scraped and sanded, revealing fine decorative designs. Many colours can be inlaid in succesive operations, inlaying one upon another. This timeless technique of inlay on each individually designed porcelain vase combines elegant simplicity of form, yet producing decoration on intricate complexity while preserving lightness of spirit.
