Rebecca Drysdale is a professionally trained potter from Northern Ireland, who is drawn to throwing as a technique. Inspired by the vessel, she explores form and movement between her work; making vessels to fill the negative space created by other vessels she has made. Interested in the process and material; each step involves ‘the hand’ where she pushes her abilities in creating forms on the wheel, the finish of her work is also minimal as to not disturb the form but accentuate it. Her work is displayed in collections; as to isolate a vessel is a very lonely thing and lacks the communication and narrative that is created when they are all together. She talks about her vessels as a ‘he’, as she sees human like qualities in them with their neck, body and shoulders; but never a head... as it does not embody a particular person, although like a person, it creates relationships with others around it.
To date, Miss. Drysdale has had the opportunity to work with Cula Ceramics Studios from 2012-2016. Learning valuable ceramic hand-building skills, how to teach workshops and learn the commercial business.
From 2016-2018, she has been an apprentice for potter IC by AC learning throwing skills, how to make glazes and managing craft stalls at events. She has worked with artists Dawn Crothers and Stephen Whalley assisting in their framing, teaching and sales business.
From August 2018 to May 2019 Rebecca has been back and forth from Copenhagen, Denmark working as an intern for Tortus Studios; getting priceless training in throwing large scale functional ceramics and allowing her Scandinavian experience to influence her style.
Since her return from Denmark Rebecca has set up her own Thrown Pottery Teaching Business (June 2019- present) known as ‘Drysdale Ceramics’ in the heart of Bangor at Boom Studios (Northern Ireland). Her goals are to make thrown pottery more accessible to her local community and get the public involved in this discipline as it creates an understanding and appreciation for the craftmanship.