Articles

DAVID ROGERS STUDIO POTTER

By Simon Lawrence


His tall narrow necked vases, the simple outline of his coffee cups, the flowing lines of his lamp bases all echo David’s design brief - each piece must be simple and functional. ‘I really want people to use my pieces rather than store them on a shelf gathering dust’ he told me, when I interviewed him for ‘T. Times’.


There is something irresistible in David Rogers work. For me as a spectator perhaps a combination of ‘easy on the eye design’, and the versatility in its practical application. There is of course another factor to equate to each finished piece - and that is the way this artist translates his energy into something physical. From the moment it is thrown, through each step of its construction - to the point of transfer into the care of its new owner.

‘It was while I was at college studying for my A Levels the ceramic bug first hit me - and I don’t think I shall ever recover’ David told me. ‘I had the most wonderful teacher who was a fantastic influence and inspired me to go on to study ceramics at Farnham for my degree’, he continued.

David’s father is a boat builder and it is to him he attributes his dextrous spirit. ‘I used to help him at the weekends and after school; and probably if I hadn’t taken A Level ceramics I might very well have followed him into the business’. While David studied for his degree he took a part time job in a local pottery. He describes his time there as ‘pure experience’ - a seasoning of skills. ‘It was one of those old fashioned places you hardly see now, with cardboard on the windows to keep the draughts out. The company specialised in ceramic garden pots and I would spend the weekends and sometimes all night doing the firings in their massive kilns’.

When David completed his studies he looked at various grants, organisations like the Princes’s Trust - but as he put it ‘I just kind of got started. I produced some pieces for a couple of shows in London, then had a summer show at the Beatrice Royal Gallery in Southampton, which was terrific but I really needed a permanent show of my work and some pieces that people could buy - I needed to eat. While exhibitions are wonderful places to get your name known you need to strike a very difficult balance - selling commercially too.

David’s pieces are all hand thrown - even the shell-like ammonite shapes are hand thrown then press moulded. I asked what inspires him - ‘I love Picasso - but you can’t see those influences in my work - I admire the very fine work of Potters like Lucy Reeves’. He told me he was a great doodler too, always playing around with ideas. But it seems he is happiest behind his wheel, experimenting and producing his unique ideas into something practical we can all enjoy using.

David’s work can be seen in London at Wills Art Warehouse and the CCA Gallery in Chelsea.