Rossmore Country Pottery is a family run business established
over 20 years ago by Jim Turner and Etain Hickey, producing
ranges of practical domestic stoneware and limited editions
of one-off pieces decorated and sculptural.
The work in the pottery is constantly evolving.
Jim's current work is focused on creating textured surfaces unique to
the ceramic process. The bottle, trophy and pod sculpture forms are
constructed from altered extrusions and paper clay sheets.
These surfaces are treated like a canvass. Layers are built up with the
slips and glazes which are applied using brushes, sponges and slip
trailors much as painting. They are then fired to 1300oc subjecting them
to chance of the firing process. Some pieces are fired again at a lower
temperature with lustres. This technique seems to encapsulate some
primeval mood in the landscape.
Jim has lectured part-time in ceramics and sculpture. He has also lead
workshops, seminars and offers consultancy services. Jim is now putting
his energy into offering courses from his studio in West Cork.
Having studied at Dun Laoghaire School of Art & Design, Etain travelled
and worked in different potteries before returning to Ireland and setting
up her studio with Jim.
Etain's individual work has been widely exhibited both in Ireland and
abroad as far afield as San Francisco and Tokyo and is in many public and private collections.
In recent developments she has perfected her own blend of paper pulp and white clay to create paper clay. These flat sheets are strong, light and
easy to handle in their raw state and can be manipulted to form (3D) heads and figures or used flat like a canvass. Etain has always loved patterns. Tapestries, Persian carpets, Icon paintings and Islamic art with its rich colours are all strong influences.
In 2005 she opened her own shop in Clonakilty.
