N I C O L A C O N T R E R A S |
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Qualified with a BA Hons Fashion Design and Textiles degree,Nicola worked for 10 years in fashion design and colour forecasting which took her to India,the Far East and USA.While living in New York she explored ceramics and wheel throwing, and on returning to London she concentrated on coiling.This primitive organic work was first shown at The Dagmar Gallery Dulwich in October ’91 and the first translucent porcelain work at Gainsborough House Suffolk in December '91. Nicola moved her studio to Mersea Island in 1996 where the wild skies and sea, tidal sand and mud continue to be a natural influence.Through the refinement of carving and glazing, the work still maintains an organic presence. Chelsea Crafts Fair '98 increased interest from galleries and from then on Nicola exhibited in Europe, the USA, and at galleries around the UK, including Yorkshire Sculpture Park Bothy Gallery, Kenwood House in London and Leeds City Art Gallery. PUBLICATIONS AND LINKS www.colchesteropenstudios.org/artistsview.php?id=112 www.craftcentreleeds.co.uk/ceramicscontreras.htm Country Living Shoestring Chic by Gail Abbott 2004 Buyers' Guide to Contemporary British Studio Ceramics ' 99, 2002 White Hot' by Tricia Guild 1999 BBC Homes and Antiques June 2003 Ideal Home Magazine July 2003 The East Anglian Daily Times Magazine May 1999 Homes and Gardens May1993 Feb 1999 Aug 2000 Feb 2002 Mail on Sunday You Magazine Oct 1997 House Beautiful USA Dec 1995 Elle Decoration March 1995 Designers Guild Brochure 1994
EXHIBITIONS Solo and 2 Person Shows Colchester Open Studios 2007, 2008 Norfolk & Norwich Hospital showcase 2005 City Art Gallery Leeds Solo showcase 2003 Eton Applied Arts Windsor 2 person show 2001 Yorkshire Sculpture Park with Matty de Vries 2000 Inkpen Downie Architecture&Design Colchester Essex Solo show 1999 Chelsea Crafts Fair London 1997, 1998 Accent on Design' New York Int Gift Fair 1994, 95, 96 Oriel 31 Gallery Welshpool Wales + June Redfern 1993 GALLERY / SHOP STOCKISTS / GROUP SHOWS Mersea Island Cookery School continues 2010 Art Cafe West Mersea Essex continues 2010 Colchester Open Studios 2007, 2008 Tillinghm Music Festival Exhibition 2005 Salty Dogs Maldon Essex 2004 Suffolk Crafts Society Bury St Edmunds Suffolk 2004 North House Gallery Manningtree Essex 2003 Contemporary Crafts Kenwood House London 2003 Rufford Craft Centre Nottingham "Raw" 2002 New Ashgate Gallery Famham Surrey 2002 Nick Allen Gallery Battersea Bridge Rd London 2002 The White Gallery 86-87 Hove Brighton '98-2001 Cecilia Coleman St. John's Wood London '98-2002 Piers Feetham Gallery FulhamRd London '98- 2000 |
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Little bowls. Translucent porcelain + pearly colours 2006 |
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Palm tree vase . coiled porcelain 2003 |
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