Community Projects

As part of the Artswork Young Cultural Changemaker initiative, I had the privilege of working with Year 8 students at Bridgemary School in Gosport to create a giant 3D mural reflecting their perspectives on ocean pollution and the impact of shoreline litter on our local coastline. This project was developed to raise awareness about ocean conservation through art, empowering young minds to think critically about environmental issues.

To inspire their creativity, I introduced the students to the work of Courtney Mattison, an environmental activist whose stunning ceramic murals celebrate coral ecosystems while spotlighting the threats they face. We explored ideas by discussing the top 10 contributors to water pollution, allowing students to reflect on what elements the mural should include. Together, we crafted slogans, sparking further conversation on how they felt about litter and pollution.

I encouraged the students to participate in beach clean-ups, bringing collected items into the studio as inspiration and as materials to create textures in their artwork. They sculpted marine life intertwined with litter, illustrating both the harm to ecosystems and how some sea life has adapted to artificial reefs. Many of their creations told intricate stories, reflecting a depth of thought about environmental impact.

Throughout the project, I introduced a range of techniques – from pinch pots and slab-building to sgraffito and bubble glazing. To reinforce sustainability, we incorporated reclaimed, tumbled glass, which the students were thrilled to use. Their final work captured powerful messages about ocean health, blending art with environmental action.

I collaborated with Year 10 students from Brune Park and Bay House Schools on a marine-inspired outdoor installation. This group included students who faced personal challenges. My goal was to use the beauty of marine life to reignite their interest in art and specifically pottery, sparking curiosity and creativity through hands-on experience with clay.

With support from the Gosport Museum, we had access to showcase boxes filled with shells, anemones, starfish, and other marine life specimens. These exhibits served as inspiration for the students, who I encouraged to study and sketch their unique structures and textures. From their sketches, they began sculpting intricate spheres, each infused with their interpretations of ocean life, to contribute to a larger installation – totems celebrating the richness of the sea.

The students demonstrated incredible resilience. Each sphere they created became a highly personal piece of art, reflecting their individuality and newfound connection to the underwater world.

The final installation was a series of four totems, each a powerful assembly of distinct yet interconnected pieces. This project fostered not only artistic growth but also a deeper appreciation for marine life, showing how pottery can bridge personal challenges and the natural world in a meaningful, expressive way.