Thomas Gough
I became interested in pottery while travelling in Australia in 1983. On return to UK I spent the summer of 1984 working for Joe Finch at Appin Pottery. Joe comes from an impeccable pottery background and fires with wood – a major interest to me.
I set up Speyside Pottery in 1989 after converting farm buildings for the purpose with an art studio upstairs for my wife Anne. The pottery produced is all woodfired and is highfired stoneware. All the pots are functional and mostly domestic ware but also some display pieces. All pots are glazed on the inside, but the outer surface is often left unglazed in order to pick up the ‘wood-ash’.
Bernard Leach having trained in Japan brought the best traditions of the artist/craftsman to England in 1920’s and set up St. Ives Pottery. I have tried to absorb the Leach/Cardew tradition. Cardew was an early pupil of Leach, and Ray Finch, Joe’s father, trained under Cardew in 1930’s. Hence the (tenuous) link.
I strongly believe that pottery should not only be practical but should look right and feel right. While decoration is often useful it should be secondary to the form or shape. I believe that a pot should appear to be trying to rise up – to grow from its base. It should seem to have a vitality of its own. A mug bought from a high street store may perform the function required but it almost certainly has no soul. I further believe that a pot is a statement and that like a good sentence or short paragraph has a beginning (the base) a middle (usually the max. diameter) and an end (the rim). A sentence ends with a full stop and so should a pot. Whenever throwing I am very conscious of these ideas.
Some quotes:-
“A pot should have a roundness – like the full moon.” (Leach to Cardew)
“The beautiful is difficult. It does not follow that the reverse is true.” (Cardew)
“The beautiful is almost perfect.” (Oriental saying)
Previously a teacher at Aberlour Preparatory School.