Raku and Saggar weekend workshop

I had the great pleasure of photographing a raku and saggar ceramics workshop, indefatigably run by the lovely ceramicists, Abigail Higgins and Alison West. Both artists make exquisite work - Abi specialises in raku and reduction techniques on vessels with lustrous finishes, Alison somehow controls saggar to make vessels with delicate and highly finished surfaces.

In a hidden Devon valley, late summer sun, fire, smoke, clay, great company, home cooking, surrounded and encouraged by hands-on and generous creativity, it was a thoroughly fulfilling two days. Raku and - especially, saggar, are very exciting, dramatic, and somewhat unpredictable processes (although clearly, experience helps to shape the results), but with very lovely, quite extraordinary finishes. They are absorbing processes and very addictive.. I took far too many pictures obviously, but all the participants were very patient and gracious (and I did get to work on a couple of pots, too)!

I highly recommend this workshop by the way, small wonder that half the group were returning participants. The final images show only half what everyone made, and the group continues to message each other with further work and ideas.

To see more of Abi and Alison’s work:

www.abihiggins.co.uk

www.alisonwestceramics.com