Fiona Thompson Midlothian, United Kingdom

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I'm a ceramic artist, based in Edinburgh. My practice focuses on handbuilt sculptural vessels with layered surface imagery.

I make handbuilt ceramic pieces for exhibition, and set up my first studio in 1995. I studied at Edinburgh College of Art (BA Hons Ceramics) , and the University of Sunderland (MPhil). Over the years my practice has also included residencies, teaching, writing for publication and collaborative projects. Along with partner Chris Donnelly I run a social enterprise, where we teach ceramic courses, offer project support for artists and make our own work. I combine traditional and contemporary processes. The pieces are built by hand, then painted and printed with coloured slips; some have incised lines, lino-printed or mono-printed imagery. They are glazed with a variety of glazes. Decals are then applied- these are made from my drawings and photographs, also metal lustres on some. I make work in series exploring particular themes, often focusing on one form at a time; usually a very familiar and everyday object or vessel. I aim to create work that encourages the viewer to think and interpret in their own way, and that quietly challenges many assumptions about ceramics. Current and previous themes include tourism, the souvenir and museum display/natural history collections. www.fionathompsonceramics.co.uk www.cyanclayworks.co