This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2014/dec/16/grahame-clarke-obituary

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Grahame Clarke obituary Grahame Clarke obituary
(about 2 months later)
My father Grahame Clarke, who has died aged 72, was a potter, Royal College of Art ceramics lecturer and collector. In a career spanning 50 years he founded two potteries, Highland Stoneware in Lochinver, Scotland, with two colleagues, and solo as Grahame Clarke Porcelain, a solo venture, in Norfolk. He focused his career on producing excellent, usable and entirely handmade tableware. My father Grahame Clarke, who has died aged 72, was a potter, Royal College of Art ceramics lecturer and collector. In a career spanning 50 years he founded two potteries, Highland Stoneware in Lochinver, Scotland, with two colleagues, and Grahame Clarke Porcelain, a solo venture, in Norfolk. He focused on producing excellent, usable and entirely handmade tableware.
Along with many in the postwar generation of potters he was first influenced by pioneers of small-scale studio pottery such as Harry Davis, Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada However, instead of producing one-off pieces for display, he believed in the importance of the life and use of his work. He wanted to combine improved ergonomics with aesthetics. Along with many in the postwar generation of potters he was first influenced by pioneers of small-scale studio pottery such as Harry Davis, Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada. However, instead of producing one-off pieces for display, he believed in the importance of the life and use of his work. He wanted to combine improved ergonomics with aesthetics.
Grahame was born in Barnet, north London, to Henry, a civil servant, and his wife, Elizabeth. He graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1962. As a student he assisted Harry Davis at his studios in Praze, Cornwall, and after graduation went to Stoke-on-Trent, where he worked as a designer and maker for Price and Kensington and Royal Doulton. He also travelled to Denmark to work for Bing and Grøndahl.Grahame was born in Barnet, north London, to Henry, a civil servant, and his wife, Elizabeth. He graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1962. As a student he assisted Harry Davis at his studios in Praze, Cornwall, and after graduation went to Stoke-on-Trent, where he worked as a designer and maker for Price and Kensington and Royal Doulton. He also travelled to Denmark to work for Bing and Grøndahl.
Later joined nthe Royal College as a senior lecturer in glass and ceramics, and worked there for over 20 years. In the ceramics department he worked alongside the pop artist Eduardo Paolozzi and the pottery designer David Douglas, Marquess of Queensberry. It was with Queensberry and a student, David Grant, that he founded Highland Stoneware in 1974. Later he joined the Royal College as a senior lecturer in glass and ceramics, and worked there for over 20 years. In the ceramics department he worked alongside the artist Eduardo Paolozzi and the pottery designer David Douglas, Marquess of Queensberry. It was with Queensberry and a student, David Grant, that he founded Highland Stoneware in 1974.
In 1991, he set up Grahame Clarke Porcelain in a garden studio in Hadley Green, north London, before transferring to larger premises in Norfolk. Inspired by the historic and natural environment, his work combined the durable porcelain body, modelled on 17th-century Chinese pottery, with a free hand-painted style inspired by the Delftware and Lowestoft blue-and-white decorations of the 16th and 17th centuries. He sold work under his own name, as well as producing contemporary design commissions for Heals, for the interior designer Jane Churchill and for the tableware retailer Thomas Goode. In 1991, he set up Grahame Clarke Porcelain in a garden studio in Hadley Green, north London, before transferring to larger premises in Norfolk. Inspired by the historic and natural environment, his work combined the durable porcelain body, modelled on 17th-century Chinese pottery, with a free hand-painted style inspired by the Delftware and Lowestoft blue-and-white decorations of the 16th and 17th centuries. He sold work under his own name, as well as producing contemporary design commissions for Heal’s, for the interior designer Jane Churchill and for the tableware retailer Thomas Goode.
His wife Christine (nee Bryant) predeceased him by six months. He is survived by my sisters, Cairistine and Kendra, and me, and six grandchildren.His wife Christine (nee Bryant) predeceased him by six months. He is survived by my sisters, Cairistine and Kendra, and me, and six grandchildren.