Ceramics

Born in South London, my family lived with my grandparents. My Nan was a seamstress for the London theatres, and my father was a copy artist in his spare time. I moved out of London after a brief retail career, living in East and West Sussex before settling in Eastbourne in 1999.

For 28 years, I ran a successful landscape garden business and became inspired by Japanese garden design. Unable to find large versions of bonsai pots, I took a college course to learn how to make them myself. Sparking a new passion. I eventually closed my business to focus entirely on ceramics, a decision I have never regretted.

“… the creativity he shows with his hands and imagination in his landscaping work seamlessly transferred to his ceramics” Phil Duncan, curator, Gallery Uno Seaford.

Inspired by Japanese design and the architect Antoni Gaudi, my recent ceramics combine Japanese aesthetics with Art Deco style, showcasing precision and attention to detail. In 2024, my work evolved from stoneware to the dramatic and unpredictable raku firing, a technique I am passionate about. A chance meeting with Roland Stevenson, a renowned film set prop maker and Sussex sculptor, marked a turning point in my career. We share a passion for obscure decorative methods, and raku led to a new stream of work that continue to evolve.

“Alan relentlessly pursues excellence; his work never fails to inspire and captivate” Phil Duncan, Gallery Uno.