About me
Where it started
Originally I studied fine art sculpture at Edinburgh school of art. My journey exploring clay started during the chaos of 2020 lockdown. I jumped at the opportunity to study a masters in ceramics at the university for creative arts.
I fell in love with clay and was determined to learn as much as possible. I became fascinated with the endless possibilities that clay provided. From throwing, hand building, casting, glazing and firing.
No two objects I craft are the same, I work in small batches and each piece is unique. Every piece has been; designed, thrown, turned, sculpted and glazed by hand.
Taylor Shaw ceramics consists of functional tableware and decorative pieces. I draw inspiration from the natural landscape and the raw materiality of clay. My preference goes to a natural palette with an organic twist, muted tones and tactile textures. Each piece reflects traces of spontaneity, inviting moments of connection and contemplation.
My preferred firing methods are gas fired in reduction and most recently wood firings. Wood firing creates a cumulative record of the flame on each piece, by capturing the movement of light through time and permanently marking the movement of flame on the ware. There is this constant dialogue between wood and fire, wood firing inherently has a raw elemental connection to natural material and process. I love that for thousands of years humans have been lighting a fire inside an arch of bricks to create beautiful pots.
CV
Education
MA Ceramics
UCA Farnham
2020-2022
Bachelor of Arts: Sculpture
Edinburgh College of Art
2015 - 2018
Foundation Diploma in Arts and Design
Westwood School of Art
Exhibitions
The Orbit, Edinburgh College of Art: 25.03.2016 - 29.03.2016
Midterm Show, Edinburgh College of Art: 07.11.2016 - 10.11.2016
Degree Show, Edinburgh College of Art: 01.06.2018 - 09.06.2018
Society of Scottish artists annual show, Royal Scottish Academy 22.12.2018-18.01.19
Conflict and creative arts conference 2021
Uprising, University of creative arts MA graduate show 2022
Arthouse galleries 01.09.2023 - present
Farnham pottery 150 years exhibition 17.09.2023
Making Matters 1.10.2023 - 10.11.2023
The Old Parcels Office open 10/2/24-10/3/24
The New Ashgate rising stars exhibition 15/3/24-15/4/24
Handmade Oxford, the international contemporary crafts festival 21-23/6/24
Awards
2018 society of Scottish artist new graduate award
2024 New Ashgate rising star