My work examines the marks left by industry on the landscape, focusing on decay, erosion, and transformation. Drawing on Cornish mining heritage and my grandfather’s legacy, I work with ceramics, steel, copper, and found materials to explore the textures of weathered surfaces. By embracing both natural and industrial processes, I reflect on the enduring impact of human labour on the land, finding beauty in destruction and the histories embedded in materials.
The greed that drove the mining industry spread like a disease, hollowing out the land and leaving deep scars that the landscape has never fully recovered from. My work also speaks to the displacement of communities and erosion of traditions, and the loss of connection to place.
I have recently been accepted onto the MA Ceramics & Glass course at the Royal College of Art, where I hope to deepen my material knowledge and develop ambitious, site-responsive sculptural work.
This work explores mining’s lasting impact on land and people. Using rusted steel, ceramics, and a bronze cast of mine waste, it reflects on exploitation, abandonment, and what we choose to preserve or forget in the name of progress.
Made with acid-weathered steel, this corroded portrait memorialises my grandfather and reflects the human cost of mining. As rust eats away at the image, it echoes the erosion of working-class histories and the fading value of labour.
This terracotta vase sits between vessel and object, with a rough, burnt surface inspired by industrial waste. Its smooth, coppery interior contrasts the exterior, exploring the tension between decay and care.
This work documents the impact of the Wheel Jane mine, where my grandfather worked. The site was polluted by heavy metals like cadmium and lead, and contaminated 1,500 km of river. Since 2002, cleanup has cost taxpayers over £20 million.
I incorporated weaving into found rusty metal from a mine to bridge the divide between industrial and natural elements. Weaving, a technique symbolizing connection and time, contrasts softness with rust’s harshness, highlighting transformation and giving new life to weathered materials.
Inspired by Kennal Vale’s industrial waste and textures, this older piece pushed me to move beyond my comfort zone and explore experimental ceramics. It sparked my current work and my interest in finding beauty in destruction and decay.
