Jan Turner

I have been working as a tutor and Potter for over 30 years at schools and colleges in East Sussex and Kent.

A Little About Me

I initially began by throwing and coiling large garden pots. I then started working on functional domestic ware, making work for shows and fairs.

My most recent work is slab assembled from clay inlaid with porcelain. It is heavily grogged to give a distinctive black texture and along with coloured slips and various clay bodies it has a geological feel. Roughly torn and twisted edges add to this natural look of strata, cliff faces and eroded rocky landscapes. All these sculptural pieces are fired to 1240°, oxides and transparent glaze are brushed and rubbed into the surface after a bisque firing.

I run regular classes at The Clay Workshop which is situated a five-minute walk from Eastbourne train station.

Selected Exhibitions

1991 - Raku Pots at Gallery Regalia. Leeds.

1992 - Cathedral Parsonage Carlisle.

1992 - New Designers Islington.

1993 - Slab Temple Pots Motcombe Eastbourne.

1994 to 98 - Brighton Festival Open Houses.

1998 to 2002 - Ditchling.

1998 - Hesketh Gallery Lewes.

2000 to 2012 - Eastbourne Open Houses.

2005 to 2016 - Lammas Festival Easbourne.

2006 to Present - Meads Xmas Show Eastbourne.

2013/14 - West Dean Friston.

2014/15 - Courthouse Gallery Alfriston.

2016 to 2019 - Clay Workshop Open Studios.

2019/20 - Waterloo Gallery Alfriston.

2022 - Crypt Gallery Seaford.

Workshops

Current classes are as follows.

Monday evening 5pm till 7 p.m. this is a drop in session and is paid for on the day.

Tuesday afternoon 12 until 3:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon 1:00 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Wednesday evening 5pm until 8 p.m.

Thursday morning 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 pm.

Friday morning 9:30 am until 12:30 pm - Sculpture Class

The sculpture class is run by artist and sculptor Maggie Edwards and is a drop-in pay on the Day session. All classes are £12 per hour.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are run in blocks of 5 or 10 sessions.

For newcomers the first introductory session is offered at half price. This will include all materials.
The Clay workshop is fully equipped with all tools etc.

Please contact Graham for any details and bookings etc. through contact link

Raku

I have also taken a keen interest in Japanese ceramics, being influenced by Oribe stoneware of the late 16th and 17th century, and particularly taken with the nature of making, the beautiful greens and ochres and masterly decorative brush work.

The Japanese are also famous for their raku pots, these are taken from the kiln at 1000° and cooled quickly. I have run many raku workshops and summer schools over the years and continue to do so at my studio, The Clay Workshop in Eastbourne.