PETER COLWILL, NDD, ATD

 

I was awarded the Glamorgan Art Scholarship whilst on my A level course at Mountain Ash Grammar School, Wales.  On leaving school I studied at Cardiff College of Art and Design specialising in painting and ceramics and then my ATD the University of Wales , Cardiff.

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On gaining a teaching qualification I began my teaching career in Art & Design predominantly in secondary education but also extending to adult education.  This continued until I took early retirement in 1996.

 

I have taught a large number of students over the years and have seen many of them go on to achieve high success within the field of Art & Design.  However whilst I am very proud of this I feel at this time in my life I want to advertise and promote my own work.

 

I believe that human beings have an innate desire to express themselves creatively.  I also believe that Art & Design teachers amongst most other teachers of the curriculum subjects practice what they preach.  I had endeavoured to do this throughout my teaching career.  During this time I had assimilated many influences to my development as an artist from visits to galleries, exhibitions and workshops throughout this country and Europe and even from my students.  However I have pursued and maintained an interest in various themes peculiar to me throughout this period.  I also believed that art teaching had continually developed and moved with the times within my teaching career and had been one of personal developments and learning experience. 

 

I believe my painting and ceramics have complimented each other and that there has been an affinity between both pursuits.  Within my paintings I have tried to create an excitement and appeal in terms of light, colour and surface texture.

 

In my ceramics I had initially explored a wide range of hand building techniques coupled with a similar range of clays.  However, for many years this has been reduced to forms thrown on an electric wheel using stoneware and porcelain clays.  I have explored a combination of slips, oxides and glazes and continue to do so.  The outcome is endless and I always look forward to opening the kiln to see the results.  I have also done a limited amount of racku, finding this a very exciting process.

 

I have exhibited both paintings and ceramics in various shows and over the years from:-

 

• The Cecil Higgins Museum, Bedford

• The Luton Museum/Art Gallery

• Reading Museum/Art Gallery

• Berkshire Teachers of Art & Design

• Painted murals in a bar in Barcelona

 

Most recently and for many years I have assisted the Saturday Ceramics Group at Reading College.