Artist: Carolyn Clayton

 Carolyn Clayton:

Quoted from: https://www.cazamic.com/about-me/ 

“Hi, I am Carolyn Clayton and I just love to sculpt and create.  I was born in Folkestone, Kent, England but moved to Shropshire in 1996.

Since 2004 I have worked as a part time demonstrator at Coalport China Museum. Through my love of making china flowers I have recently developed my ceramic flower people.

My love of sculpting started at a very young age. I have always loved to make things or draw. I was a real blue peter kid and used to get though tons of home made salt dough. My art teacher was impressed with my drawing and said I should go to a London art college but I never did.  It wasn’t until I was around 30 that I ‘found clay’ as it were at a local college. I made a number of things which always got ‘woows’ off people.

College then led to Wolverhampton university where I had the time of my life learning lots of different ceramic techniques such as screen printing, mold making and making glazes. I was in my element. I found out there was a local china museum in my town so went and volunteered some help. This led to a part time job as a china flower demonstrator which I still do on a very part time basis today.

I also did half a degree in Computer Science as I also love computers. In my first years I dreamed of working at Madam Tussauds in London or being an artist, but by the end of it I was disillusioned about my art so went into IT.  I have always kept my hand in at Coalport and will own a shop one day.

My flower people were born one evening in November 2013.   I had made some figurines with curly heads (love wisps I call them) but I messed one head up so I thought I would put a flower on its neck. I put a picture up on my facebook page which led to friends asking me to make them one which then led to creating my facebook page.  Not long later people were asking for commissions and shops approached me. I now make them and sell them at a few shops around the country and worldwide.

By the end of 2020 I should be more full time with my artwork.  80% art/20% IT is the plan.  I have so many ideas and things I want to make but have outgrown my home space.   I am waiting for a workshop down at Coalport.  I hoped to be in last year, but after two floods and the coronavirus this move is on hold.

The way Clayton combines female bodies with floral elements from nature I find fascinating and oddly beautiful. Its whimsical and almost other-worldly. 

I want to perhaps experiment with 2D methods of this style of art, both drawn and painted to make it more in line with my methods of practice. 

To go forward, perhaps trying to look into 3D model making may enter my work, but I would like to make the figures themselves more realistic to female figures.