Graduate Makers
Rheanna Davison | Textiles - Weaving | Devon
Rheanna's work explores the symbiotic nature of weaving, a cooperative relationship between warp and weft, colour and texture, fibre and yarn. The yarns she uses often dictate the way she creates. Each unique quality is imperative to her work. She responsibly sources her materials using mostly mill end-of-line, second-hand or recycled yarns.
She embraces the slow and methodical nature of weaving. It allows her time to reflect upon the process itself, requiring consideration and acute attention to detail. Each decision made is recorded within the history of the piece, the composition becoming autobiographical, echoing to the ring of a tree or a layer in stone.
The patterns within her work often form into repeated geometric grids, this reflects the construction of the weaving itself. Acting as building blocks to the piece to reflect the creating process. Weaving allows her to create something entirely new from these, exploring small elements of the yarns; their cultural, visual or tactile experience.
Colin Wilkes | Glass / Mixed Media | Devon
Colin is a former builder with 15 years of trade experience, so has a good knowledge of materials especially concrete and timber. When he decided to make the change over to the craft industry, I never imagined that his time in the trades would come in so useful. He now specialise as a glass blower and draws on his old skills with materials so he can combine them with the glass he creates in the studio.
He uses my knowledge of working with concrete and techniques of making shuttering, to construct moulds for filling with concrete to form permanent structures for blowing into. He is then able to use the blown glass and the concrete to create the final piece, a half glass half concrete art sculpture. He does this using those same industrial materials from his past career.
The focus of his current practice is to work in a more sustainable way with these chosen materials, by continually reusing them to produce evolving mixed media sculptures. He does this by grinding up the waste concrete back in to fine aggregate then remixing and reforming new moulds, so he can continue creating new works.
His work uses innovative construction methods and a diverse blend of materials, that when put together create dull industrial looking concrete then combines it with vibrant coloured but fragile glass.
Donna White | Ceramics | Devon
After graduating from Portsmouth Polytechnic with a B.Ed honours degree in Creatives Arts in 1989, Donna taught as a primary school teacher for thirty years before returning to arts education to study MA Ceramics in 2019 at Plymouth College of Art.
Working with clay is something that has remained alive in her blood, and the thirst to create ceramic works has been quenched through attending many evening and day classes, especially those with Studio Potter Bruce Chivers, at South Devon College, who encouraged her to further my work at MA level.
Donna’s work explores the connection between humans and the landscape, the relationships we form with the natural world, and how we develop bonds with places that hold significant meaning to us. Throughout her research and practice she has developed ways of embedding this human connection in clay works, using sediment, sand, debris and flora to express connections, relationships, memories and emotions.
Donna’s pots are made using a combination of coiling and throwing, whilst embedding natural materials. Unfired vessels are often returned to the place where their materials were gathered and left to be reabsorbed back into nature, completing a cycle of life. Other vessels are fired for permanency and kept as memory jars to celebrate a special memory in time, or the life of a loved one.
Donna recently completed a Masters degree in Ceramics at Plymouth College of Art, where she has focussed her work on exploring ephemeral ceramics to reconnect with nature, and specifically in the manufacture of biodegradable funerary urns to support grief and mourning.
Image credit: Rod Gonzalez
Image credit: Lorna Yabsley
Image credit: Lorna Yabsley
Image credit: Rod Gonzalez
Suzi Humphries | Ceramics | Cornwall
Suzi is a Ceramic Artist living and practicing in Cornwall. Her work is centred around interpretations and the contradictions of the inner self. She explores expressions of emotion and allows elements of the hidden subconscious to become embodied. Tapping into the fragmented memories of what has gone before to make them real in the present.
Suzi finds herself driven by process, form, and technique, constantly seeking ways of portraying this fascination in her work. Her aim is to engage the viewer through questioning of materiality, and her pursuit of perfection, as she continues to develop her identity as an artist. Currently, she is exploring working on larger conceptual forms, allowing the additional impact that this scale provides to communicate her ideas.
Suzi’s background is in the wedding industry, she worked as a wedding cake designer for 12 years, owning and running an award-winning cake company. During this time, she developed an eye for design and detail but had an inner longing to create work that had permanence. To fulfil this, she returned to education and studied for a BA (Hons) degree in 3D Design Craft. This was a challenge after so many years out of education, but it has allowed her to grow as an artist, cultivate a fresh desire to create work that has meaning, and given her new insights into how she can express her creativity.
Tamika Loftie-Eaton | Furniture | Devon
Tamika is a multi-disciplinary designer maker who loves to use colour and texture in her designs as she finds that they are great tools at enhancing certain details on her objects.
Tamika’s making and designing process is based on experimenting and combining multiple techniques and materials. The act of combining materials into one piece is a way for her to create a narrative and draw peoples attention to topics she is passionate about.
She uses the inspiration she finds from nature, her environment and the people around her to tackles social issues, which she has encountered, and help bring awareness to them.
Tamika’s skillset includes working with: ceramics, wood, textiles and exploring the possibilities of merging them.
She aims to open my own studio so she can develop her designs as well as collaborate with other creatives and disciplines.
Alexandra Carr | Mixed Media | Devon
Alexandra is a doctoral researcher at the University of Plymouth, with a background as a designer maker informing her practice-based research.
Much of Alexandra’s work plays between various mediums, following experimentation with materials and process.
Nelly Cambridge | Textiles | Cornwall
Nelly’s work is driven by her passion for sustainability and innovation. Using knowledge of different fibre types to create contemporary blends of yarn a variety of fibre types for example; wool, cellulose, plant based and recycled fibres.
With sustainability at the forefront of Nelly’s design decisions she uses natural dye processes to create colour in order to reduce the amount of chemicals entering water systems.
Her end of degree collection of yarn was inspired by the microscopic wildlife found off the Plymouth Sound using primary research gathered from the marine biology department of Plymouth University. This collection is in collaboration with the natural fibre company who have sponsored the development of this unique blend containing seaweed. Nelly aims to further explore the possibilities of producing contemporary blends for application across a variety of markets.
Vicky Jackson | Ceramics | Devon
Vicky learned to knit when she was 6, sitting next to her nanny. From that moment on she has been interested in creating, from fabric to cakes to Fimo.
Vicky tried her hand at being a dental technician. Then met her husband at 21 and had 4 children. Her husband was in the navy so they moved every 3 years and with 4 children her creativity was put on the back burner - she carried on knitting though through out this time.
Vicky had a 2-hour throwing session and had an overwhelming feeling of being at home (in the studio setting) from that moment on she has pursued ceramics. She joined a community studio in Portsmouth and sucked in all the knowledge she could and became part of the leadership team.
Vicky then moved in lock down to Torbay and she renovated their house and finally got a shed/studio from which she indulges her deep joy in mud. She gets absolutely lost in time in her clay space.
Vicky comes from Falmouth in Cornwall and has lived in Scotland twice, Portsmouth six times, Cornwall once and New Zealand once. Her life has been very busy. At last she can focus on her creativity.
Bonnie Mustoe-Whitehill |Mixed Media | Devon
Bonnie is a research-led mixed media artist, curious about the psychology of touch and play. This curiosity guides her interest in creating tactile objects for the benefit of the user, whether that is visual, mental or physical.
Living alongside nature, in the Cotswolds, Devon and Cornwall, has inspired her to use tactile natural forms as starting points within her work. She focuses her creative practice largely on casting techniques, working with various materials, such as glass, fine metals and rubbers to create tactile objects which encourage the user to explore with their hands as well as their eyes.
One of the key focal points within her work is exploring material qualities and how they can be applied and used deceptively in conjunction with unassuming natural forms. Bonnie has found that designing work with surprising properties engages the audience and creates a sense of playfulness and intrigue.
Mateja Perosa |Textiles | Bristol
Perosa Design garments and accessories are universal and timeless, inspired by the folk tradition of the Balkans. Bold and brave: for all creatives, artists and beauty chasers. The touch quality of linen gives us a sense of luxury. It is our ancestral fabric and is made for our sustainable future.
Linen is the textile of our lives. With sustainability at the heart of our craft, each piece is made-to-order, locally.
Mateja Perosa is a surface designer, based in Bristol. She is transmitting the ancestral symbols into the cloth for creating stronger connections between the wearer and linen.
All pieces are made to order with love, in the Bristol Textile Quarter studio.
Faye Bentley | Textiles | Somerset
Faye is a Textile Designer Maker based in the South West of England, specialising in the technique of Tufting.
She is really passionate about all things colour and texture as well as the outdoors. Nature is not only used for visual inspiration but is the core theme for her work. Whether it be through the use of natural dyes, reusing textile scraps or her growing commitment to finding initiative ways to create with any of her textile waste.
Faye creates one of a kind pieces that range from soft furnishings such as her tufted scrap cushions, tactile artwork and wall hangings. With new products including accessories in the making.
Lauren Tearle | Ceramics | Devon
Lauren is a passionate maker who creates ceramic objects for one-off or small batch production.
She is interested in the possibilities of colour, texture and organic forms in her work.
For Lauren, the ceramic studio is a busy, inspiring place for experimentation and learning new ways to create her final outcomes.
Lauren hopes to create beautiful objects that will be treasured forever.
Gail Stubbs | Ceramics | Devon
Gail Stubbs is a ceramicist who makes both functional and installation work based in South Devon. Gail’s work is closely associated with the complex issues surrounding the mechanisation of food production, overfishing and fish politics. The work exists in the realm of social political commentary through craft production.
Fishing related images have been screen printed onto slabs of white stoneware which have been used to form plates using a RAM press with dies cast from factory made originals. The screen-printed images distort when pressed illustrating how the narrative of food and fishing is sometimes romanticised and warped by both marketers and consumers.
Maritime phrases were used to convey suggestions of the frailty of marine life and dangers of overfishing and the situation humans find themselves in with regards finite resources. Mass production methods of ceramics have been used as a canvas to mirror the mass production and processing of food.
Westcountry clay has been used and limited firings carried out during the making process enabling the production of the work with a low carbon outlay.
Andrea McCarthy | Printmaking | Devon
Andrea’s printmaking practice consists primarily of lino and cyanotypes.
Andrea spends a lot of time walking by the sea and the countryside in Devon, and that has become a great inspiration for her work. Typically she will work from photos taken on these walks but the process is important as well. She enjoys focusing on the highlights and shadows, and seeing the print come to life as the layers are added.
In October, Andrea opened her own shop on The Barbican in Plymouth to sell her work and she is really enjoying it!
buyindie.co.uk/store/andrea-mccarthy-prints | @andreamccarthy.print
Ella Kearvell | Textiles | Somerset
'Ella's Handmade Creations' are handcrafted textile dolls, made with an emphasis on recyclability and sustainability. Ella’s creations combine her love of animals and costume design, which she studied at Arts University Bournemouth in 2022. Each creation has its own unique character, brought to life in recycled, natural and vintage fabrics, using the combination of machine and hand-stitching.
Ella begins her creations by deciding on which animal head she would like to create; she looks for animals that have interesting colours and fur types. She enjoys replicating these in different fabrics, trims and stitch techniques. Her favourite part of the process is sewing the patches on around the eyes, every stich and thread of “fur” gives the doll its own unique character. The clothing is created once the doll’s face and body is complete.
Sustainability is an important factor in Ella’s art practice, using materials and fabrics that work with nature and not against it. She loves recycling materials into new creations and upcycling clothes, giving things a second life. Collecting vintage fabrics, clothes and trinkets is a favourite hobby of hers.
Ella also loves learning about the history of her local area in Somerset, UK. Learning stories about the lives and work of past locals, has given her great inspiration towards her art practice over the years.
Karen Painter | Ceramics | Bristol
Following a successful career as a graphic designer, an ongoing appreciation of art, particularly contemporary craft, has led me to the position of artist/maker.
Through my degree course, my practice has developed in ceramics, wood and textiles, with their natural properties being important to me.
Karen’s work is mainly in ceramics, with an interest in wood and textiles.
Darcy Chapple | Mixed Media | Cornwall
My work explores memory, melancholy, and the human experience using primarily oil paint. I also play with the layering of paint with charcoal and inks. Drawing inspiration from the profound narratives held within individuals and landscapes, I delve into the invisible energies that intertwine with the human figure and the spaces they inhabit.
Colour, to me, serves as a dynamic language, capable of evoking intricate emotions and moods. Through intuitive brushstrokes across the canvas, I orchestrate a symphony of hues, each interacting to create captivating atmospheres and narratives. My practice is deeply influenced by the works of the masters, where nostalgia intertwines with modern sensibilities, as I borrow and reimagine historic palettes in contemporary contexts.
Central to my recent explorations is the notion of invisible pain and chronic illness, particularly from the female perspective. I aim to shed light on the unseen struggles and resilience of individuals navigating these experiences, inviting viewers to confront and empathise with these often-overlooked narratives.
Recently, my focus has shifted towards the intersection of women, nature, and healing—examining the profound connection between the female form and the landscape.
Eve Copper | Textiles | Devon
I graduated from Plymouth College of art with a BA Hons in Fashion Design 2 years ago. My final collection featured at Graduate Fashion Week presented a unique modular multiway clothing system.
The Eve Copper brand has developed that final collection into an ever-evolving collection of sustainable womenswear. I describe my garments as considered craft, as all aspects of the design and production has been consciously selected to minimise planetary impact, reduce waste, utilise existing resources, improve use-value and adaptability.
I specialise in creating multiway garments, which give my customers multi-use clothing with greater value and longevity than the single purpose clothes most brands offer. The considered design of these pieces reinforces the sustainable fashion ideology to buy less, buy better and use more.
All garments are manufactured by hand in my small Tiverton studio on a ‘found’ vintage knitting machine and other vintage sourced sewing machines. I use consciously selected materials including British wool, vintage and dead-stock fabrics, vintage buttons and notions (where possible) and sustainable new fabrics.
Matthew Blythe | Photography | Devon
I have been practicing and learning photography for about 4 -5 years, this last year I have been making a concerted effort to gain the skills in running photography as a business. I covered the Teignmouth Maritime and Shanty Festival as the official photographer and took part in my first exhibition at TAAG last week, where I sold one of my limited edition prints (lots of rain so not many visitors).
I am now pursuing a career in photography alongside my normal job, I am looking to learn how to make a career in an arts based role. My skills mainly lie in landscape photography and I focus on the local area.
For more information on how to become a Graduate Maker, please visit this page.