WATERCOLOUR artist Richard Pottas and ceramicists Pollie and Garry Uttley are welcomed back to the Turnstone Gallery, in Sandsend, near Whitby, for the Above & Beyond exhibition from this Saturday afternoon.

"The common thread in this show is the influence of other countries; the rich colours, the different climates and the changing patterns," says gallery owner Harry Casson.

Richard Pottas’s use of watercolour has undergone many changes over the past 20 years but the last ten have seen him concentrate increasingly on interpreting surface pattern as found in vegetation. "This interpretation has produced two very different directions of travel and, although on first viewing the link may not be immediately obvious, the two are totally related and dependent on each other," says Harry.

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Elements Of India wall panel by Pollie and Garry Uttley

Work produced from visits to the South of France showing the effects of heat on plant form are then developed, further concentrating on surface pattern and layering, and eventually stylised into geometric repetitive pattern. The use of "resist" to achieve depth and varying qualities of edge is an integral part of the process.

"Richard is happy to acknowledge the debt he owes to aspects of Japanese and Chinese art in the realisation of some of his work," says Harry. "End products are produced in series and create challenging, though at the same time subtle, surface pattern."

 

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Richard Pottas at work in his studio

For Pollie and Garry Uttley, it all began with a journey. “November 6th 1995 was the day we landed in India for the first time and it was the start of a fascination with the country and its tribal textiles," say the Chesterfield ceramicists.

"Since then there have been many return journeys, usually by train across the length and breadth of India. "It is the richness, vitality and colour of the textiles that provide constant, ongoing inspiration. We make a range of ceramic wall panels and platters as a response to our almost annual visits to India, a country that we find endlessly fascinating."

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Pollie and Garry Uttley in their studio

Holding their Indian Inspirations show at the Rufford Craft Centre Gallery last year gave Pollie and Garry the opportunity to develop their work further. "While still inspired by India, it has moved away from the purely textile influence to a much wider appreciation of the colour of everyday life and the many festivals, as well as the art forms, to be found in tribal decoration," say the Uttleys.

"India has influenced us in every way in the development of our ceramic work, initially with its vibrant tribal textiles and in the development of a wide variety of wall panels, bowls and platters from the never-ending rich colour and pattern."

Above & Beyond will run from Saturday to November 1. Turnstone Gallery, Sandsend, is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but open on all other days, 11am to 5pm.