We are big pottery & ceramic fans here at woven and couldn't be happier to be showcasing this brand.
 
Nicola Gillis lives in Brighton and works from her garden studio. Her tableware invites you to be mindful of each of our daily eating and drinking rituals by focusing on the vessels that we use, what we see, what we share, what we hold and touch.  Understanding the value of handmade pieces from which to eat and drink, her pieces have been described as earthy, warm and tactile. 
 
 Nicola takes inspiration from the East Asian use of tableware, a specific purpose for each vessel and where pleasure is drawn from individuality. Although there are commonalities, she does not seek to replicate exact size or marks and embraces imperfection. Shadows and light on daily walks throughout the seasons and the beauty found in degraded surfaces and patina also inform her work. 
 
Nicola has developed her interest in ceramics over the past 8 years, studying on the full-time Ceramic Development course at Forest Row School of Ceramics in 2019, and beginning to sell her work in during 2020. Initially using the wheel, Nicola developed her practice to include hand-building with slabs, carving, and coils, all of which she finds to be a slower, more thoughtful approach to making. 
 
 In September 2023 Nicola was invited to have a solo exhibition of her work at Lucite Gallery in Tokyo, Japan. In November Nicola will travel to South Korea where she will learn to develop her skills under master potter Kwak Kyung Tae. This will be funded by the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust.
 
Nicola invites you to begin a conversation with her through her work by handling each piece, feeling their weight, softness and exploring their marks.

You can find Nicola’s beautiful work in our studio for the month of September. We absolutely love it!
 
 
 
@nicolagillis
https://nicolagillisceramics.co.uk