Andrew Pentland - Potter

I was introduced to the work of Andrew Pentland by one of my dearest friends. He had exhibited at Potfest, a ceramics event hosted at Scone Palace in Perthshire. Immediately I fell in love with the dual tactility of his pieces; the dark, rough texture on the outside and the smooth, creamy glaze on the inside. Each piece reminded me of a Kinder Egg, although I’m sure he won’t thank me for that comparison!

so here’s what you need to know about andrew…

Andrew is passionate about both the making and the firing method of his work. Every step of the process, from preparation to firing placement, is carefully orchestrated to ensure that each piece is unique. Over the summer of 2007, Andrew built a wood-fired kiln in Northumberland. It is his belief that this undertaking enabled him to acquire a greater understanding of the firing process, and this in turn has greatly influenced how he approaches design. Wood firing allows each piece to develop distinctive changes in colour, pattern and texture; this is known as flashing. If you think of a wood-fired kiln in the same way as a chimney, the flame follows a specific path around the kiln, making contact with some of the pieces. As it does this, the flame will deposit ash particles on each piece, which then melt and create a glaze. The effect will change depending on the type of wood used, as different tree species draw up different concentrations of minerals, and it is these trace minerals that determine the glaze. This is why Andrew takes particular care over the placement of his work in the kiln. I have three pieces of his pottery, all loved and all used. The soup bowl though is my personal favourite. The curved handle sits perfectly over my finger. It is the most huggable, comforting soup bowl you will ever hold.

You can follow Andrew Pentland on Instagram @andrewpceramics or visit his website www.andrewpentland.co.uk