Ursula Waechter
In 1979 I moved to the UK from Germany to study ceramics at Bath Academy of Art.
In 1986 I joined the team of potters led by Alan Caiger-Smith at 'The Aldermaston Pottery' in Berkshire to learn about calligraphic brush painting. Apart from a few years in Germany, I stayed there until I moved to my own workshop. I am now at Folly Farm on the Kingsclere Estate near Basingstoke.
My work is mostly wheel-thrown with some shapes made by press-moulding.
Recently I have started to use a mixture of throwing and coiling to make larger bowls.
I use red earthenware clay, which I cover with a white tin glaze. The designs are brush-painted free-hand with mixtures of coloured oxides and stains. Some designs are in the Aldermaston Pottery tradition, but increasingly I have been developing my own designs.
Much of my current work is commissioned lettered pieces to commemorate weddings, christenings and other special occasions.
