Ailsa Nicholson
Ailsa was born in Hampton, Middlesex. On leaving school she spent a number of years living, working and travelling abroad.
On her return to the UK, and after attending an evening class in pottery for a number of years, Ailsa studied ceramics at Cardiff University, graduating in 1999 with a first class (hons) degree, and subsequently set up her studio in Whitby North Yorkshire. And it is the North Yorkshire coast that provides much of her inspiration, capturing the beauty of the land and seascapes in bold, abstract and tactile forms.
Ailsa’s ceramic work incorporates a variety of wheel thrown, hand building and carving techniques which concentrate on form rather than function. The clay is never weighed and her work is always cut and carved freehand to ensure each piece’s individuality. Her glass work also tends to be more sculptural in nature using kiln casting and fusing techniques. Alongside more traditional methods of glass making she also recycles discarded glass, up-cycling and transforming trash into treasure. Ailsa finds the thought and technical processes are as inspiring as the forms themselves and her work is constantly moving and changing as she pushes at the boundaries of possibility.
Ailsa has exhibited her work at the “Sacred and profane exhibition” in Cardiff city museum, “Art in clay” at Hatfield house, the “Brighton art fair” Brighton, Yorkshire coast open studios and more recently the Staithes art festival.
On her return to the UK, and after attending an evening class in pottery for a number of years, Ailsa studied ceramics at Cardiff University, graduating in 1999 with a first class (hons) degree, and subsequently set up her studio in Whitby North Yorkshire. And it is the North Yorkshire coast that provides much of her inspiration, capturing the beauty of the land and seascapes in bold, abstract and tactile forms.
Ailsa’s ceramic work incorporates a variety of wheel thrown, hand building and carving techniques which concentrate on form rather than function. The clay is never weighed and her work is always cut and carved freehand to ensure each piece’s individuality. Her glass work also tends to be more sculptural in nature using kiln casting and fusing techniques. Alongside more traditional methods of glass making she also recycles discarded glass, up-cycling and transforming trash into treasure. Ailsa finds the thought and technical processes are as inspiring as the forms themselves and her work is constantly moving and changing as she pushes at the boundaries of possibility.
Ailsa has exhibited her work at the “Sacred and profane exhibition” in Cardiff city museum, “Art in clay” at Hatfield house, the “Brighton art fair” Brighton, Yorkshire coast open studios and more recently the Staithes art festival.
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