Kirsty Adams MSDC

Kirsty Adams’ work has been described as ‘contemporary and elegant’. She originally trained at Brighton Art College and then on the potters’ wheel in Japan and has developed a personal approach to throwing on the wheel using porcelain clay, to produce unique pieces for the home. Having originally set up a studio in London, she has now lived and worked from her studio in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne for the past three years.

Kirsty Adams' work is both functional and holds aesthetic meaning, retaining the spontaneity and delicacy intrinsic to making on the potters’ wheel. A Japanese comb tool is used to create and enhance the throwing lines. The high gloss glaze references the porcelain in its wet state, while the bronze, oxide or copper rim detail brings individuality to each piece.

Kirsty exhibits widely throughout the UK and has also exhibited in Japan, Scandinavia and France. Her work has featured in many national publications including World of Interiors and Country Homes and Interiors. She has also exhibited at Heal’s Modern Craft Market and the Northern Design Festival. Her work has featured on the set of The Great British Bake Off, Channel 4’s Inside Outside Homes, The Hairy Bikers’ Christmas Special and Sky TV's Delicious. She has exhibited at high profile craft galleries such as The New Ashgate Gallery, The Biscuit Factory and The Bluecoat Display Centre.

Kirsty was the 2017 winner of the Artisan and Craft Open Call to design and make a bespoke collection for the National Trust, selected by the National Trust and Crafts Council. She has developed her collection in a rich stoneware clay with a peacock green glaze and gold lustre rim inspired by Nostell Priory's Chippendale State Rooms and oriental wallpaper. It is on sale in major National Trust properties and National Trust on line.

Education and Qualifications
1992-93 University of Central England in Birmingham, PGCE Art and Design
1989-92 University of Brighton, BA Hons Wood, Metal, Ceramics and Plastics
1988-89 York College of Arts and Technology, Foundation in Art and Design

Exhibitions and Outlets
Sept 2018 The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
June 2018 The Old School Gallery, Alnmouth
May 2018 Ceramics Fair, Hepworth Gallery, Wakefield

Dec 2017 Hero, Stockbridge, Hampshire
Nov 2017 Shades of Clay, Kunsthuis Ceramics Gallery, Crayke
Oct 2017 MADE London, Marylebone
Aug 2017 Leeds Craft Centre
June 2017 MADE West Dean, Sussex
Feb 2017 CSAD Auction, Cardiff School of Art

Nov 2016 Sea:Land, Lotte Inch Gallery, York
Oct 2016 Northern Design Festival, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Sept 2016 Ceramic Art York
Aug 2016 The Mall Galleries, London
May 2016 Summer Showcase, New Ashgate Gallery
April 2016 Eastern Aesthetics, Bluecoat Display Centre
March 2016 Directory showcase, Design Days Dubai

Oct 2015 Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Showcase
Sept 2015 Ceramic Art York
June 2015 MADE, West Dean, West Sussex
June 2015 Vivre Cote Sud, Aix en Provence
June 2015 Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire
Mar 2015 Llantarnam Grange, Cwmbran, Wales
Jan 2015 Artichoke Gallery, Ticehurst, East Sussex
Jan 2015 Craft Centre Design Gallery, Leeds

Oct 2014 Found Gallery, Dunbar, Scotland
Oct 2014 MADE, Marylebone, London
Jul 2014 Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, Wales
May 2014 Storie Shop, Paris
Mar 2014 Turner Contemporary, Margate
Feb 2014 HEAL’S Modern Craft Market, Heal’s, London
Jan 2014 Top Drawer CRAFT, Earls Court

Nov 2013 Handmade in Britain, Chelsea Town Hall
Oct 2013 Christmas at Heart, Heart Gallery, Hebden Bridge
July 2013 Summer Splash, Rye Art Gallery, Rye, East Sussex

June 2013 Handmade Interiors, Maida Vale, London
April 2013 Summer Show, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham

Nov 2012 Dovecote Gallery, Edinburgh
Nov 2012 Handmade in Britain, Chelsea Town Hall
Sept 2012 The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Mar 2012 Sainsbury’s Centre for Visual Art, UEA Norwich

August 2010 Selected summer group exhibition, Crystal Palace

August 2008 “Selected”, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham

March 2007 Selected, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Art, Norwich

July 2006 Taliesin Centre, Swansea
June 2006 New Ashgate Gallery
Feb 2006 Where I Fell in Love Gallery

Nov 2005 Minster Fine Art and Ceramics, York
Aug 2005 Art in Clay, Hatfield House (and 6 years previous)
Feb 2005 Smart Gallery, West Yorkshire

Nov 2004 Glittering Stars, Vena Bunker Gallery, Bristol
Aug 2004 Excellence in British Craft, Formland, Denmark
June 2004 Rufford Craft Centre, Nottinghamshire
June 2004 Pyramid Galllery, York
Mar 2004 Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
Mar 2004 Artsway, Hampshire

Dec 2003 Isle Gallery, Isle of Man
Nov 2003 Wessex Fine Art and Ceramics
Nov 2003 St. David’s Hall, Cardiff
Oct 2003 Chelsea Crafts Fair, London
Oct 2003 Selected 111, Yorkshire Craft Centre, Bradford
Oct 2003 Leeds Craft Centre, Leeds
May 2003 Black Swan Arts, Frome, Somerset

Oct 2002 Affordable Art fair, Battersea

Competitions
Sept 2017 Winner Crafts Council/National Trust Open Call
Oct 2003 Finalist, Design for Scandinavia Award, Chelsea Craft Fair

Publications and Publicity
Sept 2018 Delicious Series 3 work featured, (Sky TV)
Dec 2017 Hairy Bikers Christmas Special, (BBC 1)
2017 Country Homes and Interiors Magazine
2016 Inside Outside Homes (Channel 4) –work featured
2016 Top of The Pots, World of Interiors Magazine
2015 Ceramic Review Online, Gallery feature
2015 China Ceramics Illustrated, Feature
2013 The Great British Bake Off, (BBC 1)
2012 &13 Food and Wine Magazine, USA
2011 Handmade in Britain Piyush Suri, Vivay Publishing
2005 British Studio Potters’ Marks, Eric Yates –Owen
Robert Fournier, Second Edition, A&C Black