Forty Eight Hours

Born in Sussex in 1959, I am the son of ceramist and painter Derek Davis and painter Ruth Davis. Since graduating in 1981 from Bath Academy of Art with a B.A. honours in Ceramics I have worked in my home town of Arundel on the South Coast of England.

I have spent my entire life, living and working in Arundel. There is infinite possibilities for inspiration. The sketch book never far from my side is full of studies of what I observe around me.

My children and I take walks in the beautiful local countryside. We see sheep in the meadows in the morning mist and Drinker moth caterpillars amongst the dew. We are treated to Kingfisher dashing past on the river bank and Marbled White butterflies dancing along the downs.

While at the end of the day we can find Nightjars and glow worms in the woods or grab some fish and chips and sit by the back drop of Arundel Castle and watch the wonderful spectacle of the Rooks and Jackdaws returning to their roosts.  There is just so much to enjoy and inspire the mind. 

Even the occasional train trip to London leaves me with ideas. The last being a series of pots depicting the foxes that sleep on the shed roofs next to the railway track in the suburbs.

Another place I have always enjoyed sketching is in my local,  ‘The Kings Arms’. I have recently done a very successful collection of designs based on the bar and its regulars. This particular location needs more frequent visits to keep renewing my references !

The majority of my work is thrown on the wheel and fired in either an electric kiln or the gas fired Raku Kiln. The forms are simple open bowls or tall vases. I am a confident draughtsman, my designs are figurative and often described as traditionally English in the approach to decoration.

This decoration can be divided into two distinct styles; the spontaneous and the disciplined. Although found in much of the Stoneware the spontaneous decoration is most evident in my Raku pieces; vivid colours, rich lustres and various carbonising techniques are exploited to the full. This brush work is often loose but retains the strength of  draughtsmanship.

Josse Davies, potter

The second style of decoration is more refined and is my emotional balance to the first. These pieces of work are less colourful and more tonal often depicting hundreds of animals; migrations of Zebra, herds of Cows and Plagues of Rats. Under a Zinc white stoneware glaze thin layers of iron and black underglaze pigments are meticulously painted, smudged back and painted again until the subtle tonal changes are reached.

I have also completed over thirty large tile commissions. The works are designed to fit specific locations; kitchens,bathrooms and fire surrounds. Working with the customer I discuss ideas and reworking sketches and designs until the final design is determined.

These commissions fit not only the space intended but relate to the room, the family and the whole environment.