About the Artist:
Chris Barnes studied Sculpture at Goldsmiths and St. Martins School of Art, London 1978-82. His degree show featured large brightly painted steel sculpture incorporating sound and a few very small clay works which pointed a way forward. In 1989, having pursued his interest in clay at Islington Adult Education Institute, Chris rented workshop space from Keith Ashley who was making pottery at his studio off the Archway Road in Highgate. Here he benefited from Keith's long experience of throwing and craft pottery. The early 1990's was a fruitful time for the development of Chris' making skills and understanding of firing and glaze technology. At first, slip decorated earthenware pots were made, but Chris was soon exploring the possibilities of Keith's gas fired kiln. Firing with gas enabled reduction firing and exciting glaze effects not possible in an electric kiln. Many of his distinctive stoneware glazes were developed at this time. In 1994-5 Chris helped Keith set up the Chocolate Factory artists studios in Stoke Newington, Hackney - moving into his first studio at the site in 1995. Several years of pottery making followed.

Chris' work has found its way into galleries up and down the UK and to Germany where he has exhibited in Munich. In 2006, after working as a potter at the Chocolate Factory and as a part time art teacher in London, he moved to Rhemore in Morvern where his brother Tim has a croft. Morvern Pottery houses the first large gas fired kiln that Chris built for himself. Previous self built kilns being dustbins lined with ceramic fibre for Raku pottery. The new gas kiln was first fired in May 2007 and produced good results from the start. In two years since then pots have spun from the wheel with renewed vigour, partly from the necessity of earning a living without teaching, but also with a new playfulness and freedom born of having more time and energy.

Chris says "I make two sorts of pots - stoneware and raku pieces. They reflect a love of clay as a material and the magical transformation of firing. They are the fruit of my journey so far."

MORVERN POTTERY
Rhemore, Drimnin, Morvern, By Oban, Argyll
PA34 5XZ

Also at:
The Knott, Ainstable, Carlisle, Cumbria
CA4 9RW
t: +44 (0)1768 896421
MOB: 07969779227