Anna works in porcelain, throwing each piece by hand on the wheel. Similar forms re-occur but they are not identical. It’s clear the idea continues to develop in terms of colour, glaze and just to see how far she can push the attributes of the porcelain itself. Some shapes are very simple and clean but the delicate sheen of the glaze – “finished with diamond pads to ensure unblemished smoothness” – combined with subtle unglazed rims, give them a big presence. Other shapes are more surprising but nonetheless elegant and precise.

As she says “I search for shapes I find beautiful, making incremental modifications and teasing out new combinations of intriguing form. My pots have changed very gradually over time; similar themes reoccur alongside new discoveries as I search for the perfect shape and surface”.

A lot of her work is a deep, gloss black or a creamy matt off-white but recent work is experimenting with different and more colourful glazes. The light is reflected by the gloss finishes and more absorbed by the matt pieces but in both cases the effect is delicate and captivating.

Many of the pieces are shown on her website in groups creating compositions that easily draw your eye without any feeling of crowding, with the gradual development of the shapes adding interest. Some of the larger pieces require throwing in separate pieces and assembling allowing for more complex forms such as the Moon Jar (a particular favourite) – visually simple but highly complex.

All images: © Anna Silverton