Ernest Avenue – it’s all about Pottery
Edmund de Waal, is a British artist and was awarded the OBE in 2011 for services to Art. He is renowned for his significant collection of porcelain vessels for which he has received several awards and honours. However, he is also the author of ‘The Hare with Amber Eyes’ published in 2010, and ‘The White Road’ published in 2015 amongst others.
Image courtesy of Jenny Lewis thetelegraph.co.uk
Edmund de Waal
Although Mr de Waal was born in Nottingham, it was his Dutch grandparents that originally came to England to settle – his grandfather being a businessman and his grandmother a member of the Ephrussi family, a Russian Jewish banking and oil dynasty, the history of which is reported in his book ‘The Hare with Amber Eyes’.
Mr De Waal was educated at The King’s School, Canterbury, where he was taught pottery by the potter Geoffrey Whiting who had been a pupil of the eminent potter Bernard Leach. When he was 17, he deferred his entry in to the University of Cambridge, and started a two-year apprenticeship with Whiting. Then in 1983 having been awarded a scholarship, de Waal took up his place to read English at Trinity Hall, Cambridge from where he graduated with first class honours 3 years later.
In 1988, he moved to Sheffield and began experimenting with working in porcelain. Then, having gained a post-graduate diploma in Japanese language under his Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Scholarship, he studied in Japan at the Mejiro Ceramics studio.
Edmund, returned to London in 1993 and began making his distinctive porcelain ceramics with a celadon glaze. By 1995 his pots had become very fashionable and he was awarded his first solo exhibition.
From 2004 to 2011, Mr de Waal was Professor of Ceramics at the University of Westminster. He made significant pieces for Chatsworth, Tate Britain, Kettle’s Yard and the Fitzwilliam Museum as well as Victoria and Albert Museum. In 2012 he received his first public art commission from The Alison Richard Building, part of the University of Cambridge. He created three glass display cabinets filled with porcelain to sit underneath the pavement around the building.
Image courtesy of Ian Skelton
BRAC Contracts create new studio in Ernest Avenue West Norwood
Today Edmund works out of his new studio in Ernest Avenue, West Norwood which was refurbished by BRAC Contracts from an old munitions factory where shotguns and cartridges were originally produced. From its shell, we created new studios, office accommodation, kiln, glazing rooms and gallery. We were delighted to work closely with Edmund to provide the perfect environment to design, make and display his beautiful works of art.
As experts in our field BRAC can offer a one stop shop to manage your entire project. We will work with you to combine innovative construction with meticulous craftsmanship, breathing new life into your building. Our skilled team offers valuable input into cost-effective, space-maximising solutions, renewable energy initiatives, environmental measures and safe, efficient project management.
If you would like to discuss this, or any project you feel is suitable for BRAC Contracts, then please contact Adam Clark on adam@brac-contracts.co.uk or telephone 01268 573933.
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