“Thank you – honoured to be one of the first, a wonderful place, gorgeous home – you will be a stunning success!”
PETER WILLSThe work of Peter Wills, a professional potter since 1989, has been evolving over the years within the context of attention to detail, balanced form/decoration and passion; all of which he believes are crucial.Of his numerous influences Bernard Leachs A Potters Book and the whole ethos behind that work was one of the first and strongest. Sung and Tang Dynasty Chinese pots have also been an inspiration along with major C20 European potters such as Lucie Rie, Hans Coper and Michael Cardew. Profound and lasting early influences came from the artist potter and early CPA member Derek Davis and also tutor Sue Nichols. Widely exhibited in Britain, his work has also been shown in Italy, Brussels, Spain, The Netherlands and Japan. Commissions undertaken have included those from his local Council and The Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend. In the spring of 1998 he gained his most prestigious commission to-date when asked by HMs Government to make bowls for them to present as gifts to the nineteen visiting European Heads of State attending a Summit in Cardiff. His work has been featured in many national publications including; World of Interiors Homes & Antiques The Daily Mail Weekend magazine and The Times. His pots have travelled far and wide and can be found in private collections in Britain and around the world. In his small studio Peter formally worked with fine white clays that he blended to his own recipes, however most recent work has been undertaken with French Limoges porcelain. His current production is almost exclusively one-off bowls and vases. Most work is thrown on a potters wheel, raw glazed when bone dry and once fired to 1285C. The lure of new glazes he finds irresistible and he is constantly experimenting with and developing new glaze recipes. He is a member of The Makers Guild in Wales, South Wales Potters and The Craft Potters Association of Great Britain. |