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Licy Clayden

I set up my first studio in London in the early 1990's. At that time my work was influenced by the cliffs of North Cornwall, where I spent much of my time, and their erosion by the weather and sea. In the late 90's I found my love for working with black stoneware and porcelain, fusing them together to create the textures and contrast found in the landscape. My first attempts at joining two such different clay's, resulted in them pulling apart in the firing but over the years I have perfected the technique and although it takes time and patience I still enjoy the challenge of working this way.
I am always asked if the porcelain I use is paper porcelain, its not, in the main I have always used Audrey Blackman porcelain and on occasion I have used Ming.
In 2012 I moved with husband and sculptor Benjamin Beckett to Hastings where we set up our studios and home in an old stables which was used for the promenade horses in the 1860's.
By this time my interest had moved to under the sea and my passion for corals had begun. It was a natural progression for me with my love of the sea and one which suited the materials I enjoyed working with. All my research at this time came from reference books, museum collections and a love for the work of Alexander McQueen, who captured the essence of nature in his work like no other.
As my work evolved so did my interest and in 2018 & 2019 I was lucky enough to visit an eco village on the Red Sea in Egypt. Seeing these animal colonies up close re-ignited my passion for the sea and the amazing life beneath the waves.
All my pieces are individually hand built in stoneware and porcelain, so you are guaranteed to have a completely unique piece of work.
Benjamin Beckett

I had always been interested in model making, so the move to create my own pieces was a natural progression for me, when I was introduced to clay after leaving my job in the NHS in 2012. This coincided with the move to Hastings, with my wife Licy Clayden, where I was able to set up my first studio.
Being able to sculpt full time enabled me to focus on my love of birds and all things mythological.The two quite different subjects then combined with the weird narratives that play out in my head and my collection started to grow. Birds with Hats were born and from there came my character birds, which led to me being called a 'modern day Martin Brother', by some.
My more mythological pieces grow from stories that play out in my mind, there's a book in there somewhere! My outside influences come from my love of reading, especially Stephen King.
I work in white earthenware and underglaze, this enables me to bring out all the detail I enjoy so much and breath life into each piece.
All my pieces are individually sculpted and painted, however small no two pieces will ever be the same.
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