In the window: Wayne Clark

Retail Showcase

Wayne graduated from Harrow in 1995 with a degree in Workshop Ceramics. In 2000 he gained an MA in Applied Arts from the School of Creative Arts at Wrexham Glyndwr University. He is now based in Prestatyn, where he has a workshop and an Anagama wood-kiln located along the coast.

Wayne makes work with the firing in mind. Creating and making marks in the clay and producing simple forms with the intention of catching the ash from the fire, which at sustained temperatures in the kiln turns to glaze, which pools as it runs over the piece.

The work Wayne produces varies from large sculptural pieces to smaller functional pieces. Working with a mixture of crank and other stoneware bodies with additives of Ruabon red clay and coarse sand, Wayne then uses various ash and shino glazes as well as vitreous slips.

Working on large sculptural pieces affords Wayne the opportunity to be more aggressive with his marks, sometimes ripping and piercing through the clay. With smaller functional pieces he tries to maintain the same aggressive impact but in a more controlled manner.  

The work is fired in an Anagama kiln which is 3ft square and 14ft long. This enables Wayne to make much larger pieces and be more experimental with the packing of the kiln. This kiln is fired for duration up to around 50 hours and fired at least four times a year.