Hon. President:- Joe Finch

Hon. Member:- Henry Sandon

Elaine Hind

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Elaine studied ceramics at Birmingham College of Art gaining an N.D.D. and A.T.D. She was employed as a Senior Lecturer in charge of the Three-Dimensional Design Department at Bournville Centre for Visual Arts, part of the University of Central England, but retired in 2005. She has exhibited widely in the Midlands and has work in collections in Manchester and Birmingham. In 2007, her lamps were featured in ‘Breaking the Mould’ published by Black Dog.

During my practice as an artist flowers have remained at the centre and heart of my work, chosen for their sculptural shapes, both when in bloom and when going ‘to seed’. I research my ideas through drawing, becoming familiar with favourite structures and allowing my imagination free rein to blend or abstract them into my porcelain constructs.

My work is very much in the Decorative Arts category, including a variety of semi-functional vessel forms, non-functional sculptural pieces and vases which have strong qualities as empty vessels, but which all hold water. In the last couple of years I have also developed lamps, which are inspired by plant forms and have embellished them with glass ‘seeds’. These lamps give a magical transformation to a low light space due to the wonderful patterns cast on all surrounding surfaces and the glow of the coloured glass.

 I have spells of working with particular flowers, usually in season, recently concentrating on ones, which produce excellent seed heads such as sunflowers and everlasting flowers. This has led me into using variations on repeat patterns. My work makes use of a wide range of techniques, especially modelling and surface carving.

I make the glass ‘seeds’ in my kiln, at the same time as using gold lustre and enamels.  This helps to create the sense of richness, colour and texture found in old gardens.

I love textiles, colour, the arts of The Middle East and of The Arts and Crafts period in Europe and I am influenced by all of these.