The Bluecoat

Susan O’Byrne was born in Cork, Ireland. She began her artistic studies at Grennan Mill Craft School where she received a certificate with merit in 1991. In 1994 she moved to Scotland to take up a place at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 1999 with a First-Class Honours Degree in Design and Applied Art. In 2002 she was awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in ceramics, also from Edinburgh College of Art.

During this time, Susan was the recipient of many awards and commendations, among them a Scottish Arts Council Setting Up Grant and a Craft Potters Association Charitable Trust Fund Award to undertake a drawing and research trip to Kenya.

In 2002 Susan moved west from Edinburgh to set up practice at Glasgow Ceramics studio. She has exhibited widely and been an artist in residence both at home and abroad and also manages to find time to lead many award winning community art projects.

Exhibitors include: Loretta Berganza, Halima Cassell, Carina Ciscato, Eddie Curtis, Lowri Davies, Hyejeong KIM, Sun Kim, Saleyman Saba, Lara Scobie, Tina Vlassopoulos and Derek Wilson.

Suitable for

Admission

Free

Crafts Council’s Hothouse 2012/13 Participants show.

Hothouse is a programme of support for emerging makers, providing artists with advice to assist them with nurturing their specific disciplines and careers in the craft sector. The Hothouse programme includes development of business skills, focus on market knowledge and creativity
a series of networking events bringing together Hothouse participants and one to one sessions with a mentor from the sector.

Artists selected for this exhibition include Grant Aston, Anne Laycock, Kirsty Pearson, Naomi Robinson and Jill Shaddock. This exhibition will celebrate the fruits of the labour of these selected Hothouse participants.

Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool Hope University & Yorkshire Artspace are working with the Crafts Council as Hothouse partners in the North.

We live and work on an isolated farm in mid-Wales with our three daughters. The space, quietness and landscape of our environment all enhance our lives and influence our work.

Having trained in production throwing we feel grounded in functionality.

The constraints and demands of making (and selling) domestic wares are considerable, yet the appeal of making objects that serve well in daily life is an enduring one. The repetition of making by hand ensures a gradual honing of skills and allows on-going modification of form.

In design terms we hope to find a good balance between being minimal and quiet yet interesting.

Decoration has always been hugely enjoyable to apply and plays an important role within the constraints of form and function. These have been our foremost concerns since setting up our workshop.

As part of our ongoing programme of exciting artists' talks, the next event will feature local mixed media artist Elizabeth Willow. Inspired by the beautiful setting of the Athenaeum’s wonderful Library, Elizabeth will discuss how her passion for words and stories has influenced her work, focusing in particular upon her use of paper in creating sculptural objects and artist’s books. This event is open to current and new subscribing members of Bluecoat Display Centre and members of The Athenaeum.

When

1-4pm

Admission

Tickets: £12.50 each (including tea at The Athenaeum Club, Liverpool)
Places are limited so advanced booking is essential.
To reserve a place please call 0151 709 4014, or email crafts@bluecoatdisplaycentre.com

Local textile artist Helen Chatterton will talk about creating tactile scarves and cushions incorporating colourful velvets, Harris Tweed and vibrant Liberty fabrics. Perfect winter warmers!

When

1-4pm

Admission

Tickets are £12.50 each which includes Helen’s talk followed by afternoon tea at The Athenaeum. Places are limited so advanced booking is essential.