My formative years in ceramics occurred at the old Harrogate College of Art and North Staffordshire Polytechnic, Stoke. Aah, those innocent, adventurous and experimental times.

I subsequently became a nomad in the world of employment. In my nomadic journey I have worked in telecomms. engineering, welfare rights, salvage/reclamation, building industry, product design, tannery industry, teaching and the mandatory bar work. Throughout this journey I have always engaged in some form of art activity, either making for myself or those close to me.

In 2004, I started to use the ceramic's facilities at the Swarthmore Centre (Leeds). The use of the centre has been most therapeutic and fulfilling.

Since re-engaging in ceramics, my work has taken a more sculptural form. I mainly use a press-moulding technique to achieve the basic shape/form. From this basic form I develop my interest in textures, nature and fossilised states, making the transient static/frozen in time. At times I become obsessed with a basic form and revisit it a number of times, exploring variations in tandem to my psychological state.

As my work developed I found myself being invited to exhibit at various galleries, some invitations I accepted. The exhibitions proved to be a great success, but I felt dissatisfied.

I have visited Swaledale for many years. On a particular visit I was on one of my normal walks past some old lead works and here I envisaged my 'ideal' gallery. The derelict lead works are situated miles from anywhere, amongst waterfalls amidst a wild but wondrous landscape. I wanted to site a piece of ceramics behind one of the waterfalls. As the idea fermented, I envisaged placing my work in remote locations ~ inner city & rural. People may or may not come upon these isolated locations. Some works may only reveal themselves depending on the season or weather conditions. So this is what I have gradually been doing with my work for the past two years.

To be continued…

Andrzej 'Andy' Skotny.

Email me: andmel@ntlworld.com