Image credit: David Stacey
Louise Bell makes hand built ceramic sculptures with multi – layered surfaces. Each of her projects evolves from the project before it. The ‘Ancient Toys’ project was inspired by the universal appeal of toys, with sources dating back as far as 1500 BC. Louise says of the ‘Ancient Toys’ pieces: “I want to value iconic toys that have evolved through centuries and across continents and yet have changed so little in shape and purpose. The sparkly lithium glaze is perfect on high-fired earthenware clay to give the effect of precious artefacts dug from the earth.”
Out of the ‘Ancient Toys’ project came the ‘Regeneration’ series. The animals on these ‘pull-along’ toys became totemic animals carrying symbols of hope for the environment. The ‘Endangered Species’ project also has clear links to ‘Ancient Toys’. The endangered animals are depicted as toys to indicate that representations of the live animal, may be all that is left if human beings do not change their actions.
Louise studied Fine and Applied Art at City Lit College, London and completed a Masters in Craft, specialising in ceramics at Brighton University. In 2019 she participated in the Craft Council’s Hothouse Programme.
