MORVERN POTTERY at Rhemore in Morvern, Scotland - and at his studio at The Knott in Cumbria - is where Chris Barnes makes his Stoneware and Raku pots.

The Stoneware comprising a range of bowls, plates, mugs, jugs, vases etc. is thrown using a kickwheel and completed with various high fired glazes. I formulate my own glazes using a variety of minerals to produce a rich colour response combined with a very durable surface. Each of the pots is unique as a result of the entire making process. First the clay is hand thrown on the wheel or slabbed to produce the forms. After the first firing the glaze is applied by hand. Finally careful control of the kiln atmosphere during the second firing brings out the character of the ware, its colours and durable finish.

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The Raku Pots are hand built using a coarser clay which is able to stand up to the Raku firing process. This involves removing the hot pots from the kiln at about 1000°c with tongs and placing them in a bin filled with hay, or other burnable stuff. The burning that takes place as the pots cool results in charing and smoking which gives the Raku ware its distinctive quality.

Technical specifications:
Stoneware fired to 1280°c in a reducing atmosphere.
All the Stoneware pottery is microwave and dishwasher safe.

Raku pots are fired to 1000°c.
Raku pottery is not for food use.

Chris Barnes - address - Stoneware - Raku - Tech - Stockists - email

Chris & Eddie

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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

Stockists:
As well as buying direct from the maker at the pottery, Chris Barnes work can be seen and purchased at the following stockists.

The New Ashgate Gallery
Wagon Yard, Farnham, Surrey
GU9 7PS UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1252 713208
Fax: +44 (0)1252 737398
www.newashgate.org.uk/
pages/
ceramics.html

The Yew Tree Gallery
Keigwin Farmhouse, Nr. Morvah, Pendeen
Penzance
TR19 7TS
Telephone: +44 (0)1736 786425
www.yewtreegallery.com/
contact.htm

The Carthouse Gallery
The Calgary Hotel, by Dervaig, Isle of Mull.
PA75 6QW
Telephone: +44 (0)1688 400256
www.calgary.co.uk/
gallery.html

The Crown Art Gallery Carlisle
5 Lonsdale Street, Carlisle, Cumbria
CA1 1BJTelephone: +44 (0)1228 595 055
www.crowngallery.net/

The Whitehouse Restaurant
The Whitehouse, Lochaline, Morvern,
By Oban, Argyll, PA35 5UZ
Telephone: +44 (0)1967 421777
www.
thewhitehouserestaurant
.co.uk/

Made By Hand Online
www.madebyhandonline.com/
The high quality Online Craft Shop.
A valuable resource for the craft industry and an exciting shop featuring work from some of the UKs finest Designer Makers

White Space Art
72 Fore Street, Totnes, Devon
TQ9 5RU
t: +44 (0)1803 864088
e: info@whitespaceart.com
www.whitespaceart.com/

The New Brewery Arts
Brewery Court, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
GL7 1JH
t: +44 (0)1285 657181
e: info@newbreweryarts.org.uk
www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/
home/find-us-c-276_332.
html?p=shop

Waterside Gallery
2, Marine Parade,
Instow, Bideford, North Devon
EX39 4HZ
t: +44 (0)1271 860 786
www.watersideart.co.uk/

The Arts Gallery
7, Red Lion Yard, Okehampton, Devon
EX20 1AW
t: +44 (0)1837 55807
www.theartsgallery.co.uk/

Frivoli
7a Devonshire Road
Chiswick
London W4 2EU
UK
00442087423255
www.devonshireroad.com/
frivoli.html#849

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