Chris Hawkins
The immediacy of the raku copper fuming process influences how I work; striving to create a balance between tightly thrown form and the unpredictability & vibrancy of the fumed copper surface.
I work from my studio which is set in 6 acres of woodland, it is an artist’s paradise having been largely left untouched with water meadows and ponds creating a haven for wildlife and is one of the inspirations for my creativity. The land runs along the banks of the river Tamar, a steep sided valley which serves as a border between Devon & Cornwall in the Southwest UK.
The Tamar Valley has a long mining history and is well known for its industrial heritage, parts of the valley are designated as a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’, it also sits in an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. The area has also been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape. My studio sits within 100m of a deep adit for ‘Ding Dong’ mine that was once mined for the same sort of minerals that I use in my glazes today.
GALLERIES
Jarva Fine Art - Buxton, Derbyshire
Northern Lights - Keswick, Cumbria
OCG Arts - Ambleside, Cumbria
Serena Hall Gallery - Southwold
Hackney Muse - London E8 3RL
Leaping Hare Gallery - Easingwold, York
SHOWS 2025
Applications for 2025 shows are underway, accepted shows will be uploaded as soon as I know.
Raku fired Copper Matt Bottle
This bottle is a stunning ball of copper bursting from the autumn silver mists
This is a small round bottle standing 21cm high x 10.5cm wide
Hand thrown by Chris Hawkins
Raku fired in the Copper Matt glaze, it is fired in a small gas fired kiln to temperatures around 1,000 degrees centigrade. it's then taken from the kiln whilst still glowing and placed in a container on wood shavings and sawdust: these instantly combust and the flames inside the container consume the oxygen causing the clay and the glaze to react. This reduction atmosphere draws the metal copper oxide in the glaze up to the surface creating the rich iridescent colours found on Chris's pots
The chance occurrence of RAKU means that no two pieces are alike, each pot is totally different and unique.
RAKU IS NOT SUITABLE FOR FOOD OR WATER
COPPER MATTS ARE LIKE WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS AND SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN DAMP CONDITIONS OR BRIGHT SUNLIGHT.
IT IS NOT FROST-PROOF AND SHOULD NOT BE KEPT OUTSIDE.