Awards & Sponsorship

• About the Selected Awards
• 2012 Winners
• Specialist Judges • Prizes
• Previous Winners: 2011 | 2010 | 2009

Geoff Cox

Ceramics Category

Geoff Cox
www.potfest.co.uk

Full time ceramic artist for 27 years (after 13 years in teaching), I have exhibited throughout the UK, Mainland Europe and Japan. I have organised Potfest since 1994 (the first potters’ market of any size in the UK), aiming to not only create a focal point for ceramics in the UK, but also to give an opportunity for any working potter to put their work in front of a large audience. Over the years more than 1500 individual potters and ceramic artists have shown their work at Potfest. As well as exhibiting at ceramic festivals throughout Europe, I am continually looking to find new, exciting work both here and abroad to inspire an audience at Potfest, but also to build networks between potters to encourage each other in developing their work. What I’m looking for in makers is:- Creativity - an ability to continually develop ideas in new and interesting ways. Craftsmanship - in combining technical processes with a deep understanding of the inherent qualities of the material. Commitment - to perfection (God is in the detail) but also to the chosen material. I’m looking at the qualities of the maker as well as their work.

Judge’s Statement

“This year’s three award winners - Phil Rogers - David Fry - Carol Glover all show strong evidence of total commitment to their artistic development. All intensively researching and showing a tremendous in depth knowledge of their chosen ceramics discipline - David, Oriental glazes - Carol, English Slipware - Phil, wood ash and salt glazing. All experts in their own field, all very much aware of their place in the history of ceramics.
“After much debate I decided that Phil Rogers had the edge with the others so close behind that any could have been an easy winner with different opposition.
“What gave Phil the final decision was his all round knowledge and experience in the totality of the making process - kiln constructing - firing with gas, wood and oil and glaze formulation from locally sourced materials - clay, stone and wood ash.
“Perhaps a unique quality in most potters is their generosity of spirit in sharing information often hard won and given freely. Phil’s dedication to imparting that knowledge to the wider potting community in the form of lecture tours and workshops all over the world and the books he’s written in a language that inspires and encourages is quite commendable.”

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