21 July 2012

Old Friends

 Out of Doug's somewhat chaotic studio come exquisite pots!
 After a breakfast of tea, scones and clotted cream I stopped at Barrington Court, where Paul Jessop and Marion work. If you read their blog and think to yourself 'they must be lovely folks' I can assure you that this is more than true. They have a lovely spot and Barrington is stunning. Paul took me through some back doors to visit the amazing installation of clay figures put together by the artist Antony Gormley called "Field for the British Isles"Look it up! Photos were forbidden.
Last, but certainly not least, was a fine afternoon spent with Johnny and Lizzie Leach at their pottery in Muchelney. They have always been wonderfully welcoming to me and I have been visiting for many years. We swapped stories about our days with Ray Finch and told tales about all the potters who we know in common. I also crawled around the kiln their with Nick and Paul, the other members of the team there. My kiln owes a lot to the design of this mighty 3 chamber kiln and I think that I have a few new ideas to improve my own. "Potters of the world-ignite!" is Johnny's famous saying and he shouted it out to me as I drove off.
As Is obvious from my entire visit here, I am blessed to know so many good people here, and I still haven't seen them all yet. Just a week or so to go before I return to tropical Virginia, just as the sun is making an appearance here.Just in time for the Olympics.

3 comments:

Hollis Engley said...

I'd love to do the same thing, Daniel. Particularly spending time with Doug and Paul and their people. Some day, I hope.

gz said...

don't worry...the rain will be back for the olympics!!

Quietly Otaku said...

Sounds like you've had quite a busy time of it! Shame your leaving just as the weather is picking up for our short English summer!