Adrian Guest

Adrian works from a studio at his home at Dudley in the Black Country, West Midlands, England. He left school with O levels in ceramics and art in 1981 and then secured an apprenticeship in Topaz Ceramics Stoke on Trent. His primary role was throwing pots but he was also trained in all other aspects of ceramic production. After 4 years Adrian set up on his own at Cotwall End Craft Centre where he worked for many years producing hand thrown ceramics. Eventually Adrian started to make rudimentary sculpture by assembling thrown pots; this led to his passion for sculpture.

Each sculpture starts from a number of thrown pots made on the potter’s wheel which are left to go leather hard. They are then cut and assembled to get the basic shape, this gives a firm hollow body which is an ideal base to start. Clay is then added or removed, shaped and carved until it has come to life. They are then finished with oxides, raw materials, clay slips and Adrian’s own glazes.

Adrian tries to capture the essence of the animal spending a long time observing, photographing and sketching the animal before he starts to sculpt it. He is a regular at his local safari park (west Midland Safari Park) were he takes hundreds of photographs of each animal he intends to sculpt.  He says “I am fascinated by muscle structure and how the skin folds with movement which I try to capture in my work.”

Adrian has sold his sculpture in exhibitions throughout the country.