School of Art

Contact Details

School of Art
Aberystwyth University
Buarth Mawr
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 1NG

Tel: +44 (0)1970 622460

Fax: +44 (0)1970 622461

Email: artschool@aber.ac.uk


Display artist/maker:

Michael and Victoria Eden

Born: Michael: 1955, Victoria:

Ceramicists. Victoria Eden discovered the creative possibilities of clay compared to painting and drawing at 17. She began to make slipware two years later after returning from teaching with the Voluntary Service Overseas in Thailand. Victoria established her first workshop in 1976 making slip decorated earthenware though it was not very popular at the time. Through trial and error, she realised she needed to make a wood-fired kiln to develop her work.

In 1981, Victoria married Michael Eden, who was working in nature conservation in the Lake District. They started working together and renovated a property in Hale, Cumbria, in 1987 where they built a new workshop and wood-fired kiln. After having children, the Edens sold their designs which they called ‘fishware’, encompassing many slipware techniques, but they felt they needed fresh inspiration to continue.

During the 1990s, the Edens made study trips to Hungary, Portugal and France researching contemporary slipware for their co-written book Slipware, Contemporary Approaches (A&C Black 1999). On their return they concentrated on form, firing work in a new Fred Olsen fast-fire kiln, achieving added texture and softness of colour in their tableware.

In 2001-02 they curated the touring exhibition of slipware ‘The Snake in the Garden’ which opened in Aberystwyth. Michael acquired an MPhil from the Royal College of Art following study from 2006-08, on actual and virtual explorations of the ceramic container. Victoria worked on a project creating ceramic steppingstones at Morecambe Bay to commemorate the lives of the cockle pickers who lost their lives there in 2004.

Objects in the collections associated with this artist/maker

[Bowl] C1567 Ceramics

[Dinner plate] C1565 Ceramics

[Large Platter] C1564 Ceramics

[Side plate] C1566 Ceramics

[Teapot] C1493 Ceramics




 
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