Karen Howarth MA(RCA)

Karen is a ceramic artist living and working in the Colne Valley, an area of exquisite natural beauty nestled in the foothills of the Yorkshire Pennines. Nature and the landscape are a refuge, a place to escape to, somewhere to re-centre and find calm. Clay is the medium with which to translate this inspiration. “In viewing my work, I hope there is a sense of recognition, the stirring of an emotion or memory of place.” Over many years of working with clay Karen has developed a personal language of layering colour, texture and mark-making. Using different methods of applying coloured slips and texture Karen creates depth and richness on the surface of the clay. This layering process between multiple firings requires great understanding of materials and their properties. This currently translates into wall mounted ‘Ceramic Paintings’, wheel thrown and press moulded vessels and a successful range of porcelain jewellery.

Karen has been making porcelain jewellery for several years and the designs are developed from her Ceramic Paintings. Although small, they maintain the quality of the original artwork, each piece a strong yet light and wearable piece of art. The jewellery components are made from fine black porcelain clay and refined over three separate kiln firings. The final firing is the application of a decal which is a form of ceramic transfer printing. A photograph of Karens original artwork is used to produce the decals which are printed with ceramic pigments. These are then fired onto the glazed jewellery in Karens studio. Once firings are complete each piece of jewellery is hand polished to smooth the edges before attaching the final detailing.

Karen’s work can be seen in galleries across the UK as well as online and at art fairs and exhibitions.