(2018-2020) ‘Sacrificial Stone Series’ centres on the research of Alfred Watkins, a Herefordian naturalist from the early 1900’s. I am fascinated by the mystery surrounding Watkins’ work which includes photographs of standing stones and maps documenting connections between ancient sites.

The title ‘Sacrificial Stone’ came from one of Watkins’ maps. I was intrigued by this atmospheric mysterious place name which to me evokes a sense of the surreal, stone like, obscured and encaged. I have since been using clay to explore the images and feelings that I associate with these words.

I create a stonelike surface on these slab built works by applying texture and monoprinting using monochrome slips. I evoke a feeling of these forms being obscured and encaged by layering further monoprints that reference grids and meshes. When slab building, I work intuitively, cutting up slabs of clay and collaging them together to create stonelike ceramic forms. I am interested in creating works that are ambiguous, that have a sense of belonging but are also placeless and that explore the mystery which I was originally drawn to in Watkins’ work.

These works range in height from 8cm - 38cm. Medium: black or white stoneware clay, coloured slips and underglaze. All photos courtesy of Dan Barker Studios.

A selection of these pieces are available to purchase directly from my studio. Please CONTACT me if you require further details about the works.