Contemporary ceramicist Sue Ure fell in love with pottery and particularly with throwing when studying for her A levels, fascinated by the tactile sensation of throwing and the ability to make functional objects that could be used and enjoyed on a daily basis. Her ceramics are characterised by delicate shapes and the soft, slightly washed-out colours she achieves through careful mixing of glazing ingredients.

Shape rather than pattern has always been her principal preoccupation and her influences have been very diverse; from the Finnish brand “Arabia” tableware that she grew up with to the Minoan pottery that she was first introduced to by her archaeologist grandmother. Once Sue has the shapes in mind for the pieces that she wants to make, she mixes different types of clay together by hand, including recycled clay.

Sue Ure moved to France in 1994 and her work has been affected by the colours and landscape of her rural environment. Sue makes all her own glazes achieving her subtle colours by using oxides, copper, cobalt, iron and nicket and the testing of new ‘recipes’ and oxide additions is an ongoing part of her work.

“Pottery has fascinated me since my teens. I love the tactile sensation of throwing, and the feeling that you’re creating something from virtually nothing. You’re making something functional that can be used and enjoyed every day, and that can have extraordinary longevity.”

As well as developing an ever-evolving range of tableware and vase designs, Sue also works on collections for specific projects. In 2010 she made a trio of pieces for Tate Enterprises, in a Gauguin inspired palette, to be sold in conjunction with their major Gauguin exhibition.

Sue was approached again by Tate Enterprises to work with them for the Henri Matisse – The Cut Outs exhibition which opened in April 2014.

We are delighted to be working with Sue and to be one of Sue Ure’s UK stockists. You can find a range of her ceramics in our Ealing gallery.