Chance to meet BBC's Great Pottery Throw Down winner in Harrogate

The winner of the BBC's Great Pottery Throw Down will reveal how Harrogate inspired his latest work at a '˜Meet the Artist' event in the town.
Matthew throws one of his ceramic creations.Matthew throws one of his ceramic creations.
Matthew throws one of his ceramic creations.

Winner, Matthew Wilcock, will discuss the link between his most recent creations and ancient pots held in Harrogate, when residents have a chance to meet him at the town's Mercer Art Gallery on Saturday November 12.

Matthew, who is currently Resident Potter at Giggleswick School, will reveal how he first got involved in ceramics and what he’s been up to in the twelve months since he won ‘Throw Down’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Matthew said: “The work I have produced for the Mercer Gallery really is some of my most exciting work yet. Getting the chance to work with a collection so vast, and the opportunity to inspect and handle ceramics dating back thousands of years is very rare.

“The pots here demonstrate a moment in time which has happened and is now long preserved. This new work, though, is at the beginning of its life.”

Matthew is one of eight top Yorkshire craft makers who have been commissioned by the Mercer Gallery to make new work specifically for sale through the gallery shop.

The project, funded by an Arts Council grant, has seen the craft makers explore different aspects of Harrogate Borough Council’s museums service collections, and produce new work in response.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jane Sellars, Cultural Services Manager with Harrogate Borough Council, said: “The Arts Council Grant provided us with more than one brilliant opportunity. We were able to invite outstanding artists and makers such as Matthew to explore our diverse collections, and we have also been able to increase sales in the gallery shop, all of which helps to support our high quality exhibitions.”

The Meet the Artist event on Saturday runs from 1.30pm – 3.30pm and tickets to meet Matthew cost £6. To book, telephone 01423 556188 or e-mail [email protected]

Related topics: