Nicola Gillis profile image

Seeking balance from the rush of modern life I make vessels to enhance the everyday rituals of eating and drinking. These rituals are enhanced by the vessels we use; by what we see, what we pass around and what we hold and touch.

In creating my work I first ask ‘What would I like to use in my home to enhance those everyday pleasures of eating and drinking?’. I then guide the clay to create simple forms for everyday use, hoping to create a connection between my hands and the hands of another.

Captivated instantly by the therapeutic effects of clay in 2015, I quickly appreciated the learning opportunities it offered, both creatively and technically.

I work from my garden studio in Brighton which gives me the convenience to juggle family commitments and my work .

Wild, natural elements and their affect on objects give me a starting point for inspiration for my surfaces. Rusted metal, flaking paint, wood that has been smoothed by the sea, or polished from being touched by human hands over thousands of years. The tattooing of urban environments in the form of graffiti. Dark, storm looming skies, bright yellow rapeseed fields at the end of summer. I then mark my work with oxides or wax resist, taking inspiration from the simplest of brush strokes or wherever I see pattern. Embroidery, tribal markings, symbols on drain covers or  buildings.

If you would like to have a look at what I currently have for sale, click here for my shop.

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Exploring my environment further in my work I like to collect local clay and use wood ash in my work. I often incorporate clay found on Whitstable beach, Ashdown forest and my local walk at Sheepcote Valley, near Brighton. After many tests I am currently using local Ash wood and Sycamore wood ash in my glazes. This adds an element of surprise to my fairly predictable electric fired work, which I thrive on.

Exhibitions & Galleries

November 2026 Will & Yates, Deal, Kent. Group Exhibition.

8 August – 20 September 2026 The Art Shop and Chapel, Abergavenny. Mixed Summer Show – Part 2. 8th August – 20th September 2026

May 2026 Two Persimmons, Brighton. Exhibition of crafts from Japan and Britain.

7 March – 25 April 2026 Bevere Gallery, Worcester, group exhibition.

18 April 2025 Will & Yates, Deal, Kent. Exhibition with artist Carol Douglas

 November 2024 & 2025 Fry Art Gallery Annual Sale.

18 November 2024 – 5 Jan 2025 ‘Feast’ at County Hall Pottery, London, SE1. 

 11 May – 30 June 2024  ‘Lids, Spouts and Handles’ at Clay College Gallery, Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent. 

October 2023 Solo exhibition. Lucite Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.

July 2023 Bevere Gallery, Worcester.

September 2022  ‘Wabi Sabi’ exhibition, October 2021 ‘Colours of the Earth’ exhibition both at Exeter Tea Merchants, The House of Hope and Mercy in the Jungle.

March 2022 Arundel Contemporary Gallery

December 2022 Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool  – Winter Show

Restaurant commissions

The Set restaurant
September 2020 – set of bowls for tasting menu

May, August 2021 & April 2023 repeat commission

Lewes Artwave & Brighton Open Houses

3-26 May 2025 Artist Open Houses at 42 Sackville Gardens, Hove, BN3 4GH
25-27 November 2023 Winter Artists Open Houses with Faye Bridgwater, 10 Dawson Terrace, Brighton
September 2022   Birds Hole Lane studios, Barcombe
Sept 2021  Cowshed Collective 
May 2021  The Nature House
December 2020  The Photographer’s Greenhouse
Sept 2020  Cowshed Collective

Funding 

 

November 2024 Funded by QEST, the Queen Elizabeth Scolarship Trust to travel to Icheon, South Korea for a 3 week residency in wheel throwing under the tutelage of Master Kwak Kyung Tae 

Other

September 2022 Several of my pieces included within the article featuring Toast CEO Suzie de Rohan Willner’s beautiful home,  during September 2022 in Elle Decor magazine.  

May 2022 Included in 91magazine feature ‘25 ceramicists to fall in love with‘

UK Stockists

Yorkshire Sculpture Park Craft Collective

Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool

Provision Store SE1

Arte House, Golborne Road, London

My webshop located here on my site  – sign up to my newsletter to find out when shop opens.