Fiona Thompson
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The non-functional vessel is my main focus; I usually work in a series. Work in recent years has explored travel narratives, the souvenir and the photograph. Other series explore themes of authenticity, display and collection within the natural history collection and wider museum collections.
Recent work (2025-26) was inspired by a trip to Portugal. Sometimes the new catalyst for artwork is unexpected. In the case of this project, the form I’ve focused on is a flattened vase, loosely referencing an ornate commemorative alterpiece vase seen in a museum in Braga, Portugal. My version is not similar visually but its more reflecting the idea of a commemorative vase. A vessel associated with commemoration, ornament, a special object, and a vehicle for narrative that can take a variety of forms. These vases are a form of personal souvenir. They reflect how we visually consume everything, what we choose to see and not see. Minute details are important, as well as the broader view.
The pieces are handbuilt, and then the first layer of imagery is created by stencilled slips, the stencils being based on the images I took around Porto, mainly buildings. Sprigged additions are a reference to the ornament seen on many buildings and religious spaces. There was a great deal of rich multi layered surfaces, from the ornate and highly patterned churches and other religious spaces, and street art and graffiti over every surface. Tiled surfaces, patterned buildings, as well as the intense feel of busy spaces.The photographic decals reflect how we see on holiday, hopping from one sight to another, consuming fragments, snippets and multiple layers. It also makes you think about what is deemed ‘photogenic’, and what is not.
The work is handbuilt in stoneware clay. Imagery is built up in layers through slips, underglazes, oxides and glazes. Images and text are often monoprinted, sometimes linoprinted or screenprinted. Photographic transfers (decals) are often applied, with lustres on selected pieces.
Lived Experience
I graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1994, and completed an M.Phil (post graduate research degree) at the University of Sunderland in 2010. I have exhibited widely in the UK and further afield, with work available through various quality galleries. I am a professional member of the Craft Potters Association. Residencies have been a part of my practice, and I've undertaken numerous commissions. Teaching experience includes at universities and colleges, community arts work and adult education. I have had a couple of articles published in ceramic and tourism journals, and have co-authored a chapter in 'Travel, Tourism and Art' published 2013. In 2012 I set up a social enterprise ceramic studio and teaching facility in Edinburgh with partner Chris Donnelly- Cyan Clayworks. We offer courses, specialist workshops, a membership and have a space to exhibit/sell our work.
Although my focus is ceramics, I work a lot on paper- lino prints, monoprints, collages and photography. This feeds into and informs my exhibited pieces. I have started publishing short articles on Substack.
Exhibitions
2026 ‘The Kiln Room’, Delamore Arts/Artizan Collective, Devon, group show
2025 Cone Twelve Gallery, North Wales, group show
2025 ‘ShowGround’ as part of Art Walk Porty Festival, Edinburgh
2024 ‘10x10’, group winter show, Tatha Gallery, Dundee
2024 '50 Years in the Making’, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia
2024 ‘Ultra Modern’, Fox Yard Studios, Suffolk, group show
2024 ‘Miniatures Revisited’, Cupola Gallery, Sheffield, group show
2022 - ‘The story beneath the surface’ Union Gallery, Edinburgh, 2-person show
2022 - ‘An Ode to Summer’, Tatha Gallery, Dundee, group show
2020 - ‘Nine Create’ Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh, group show
2017 - ‘Shades of Clay’ Kunsthuis Gallery, N. Yorks, group show
2015, 17 &18 - Edinburgh Art Fair with Saorsa Gallery, Edinburgh
2015 - 'MAKE15', Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Devon
2014 - ‘Selected’, Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh
2013 - Ceramics Biennale, Kapfenberg, Austria
2012 - Belgian Ceramics Biennale, Centre culturel d’Andenne, Andenne
2011 - Future Craft, Novia Scotia College of Art & Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
2011 - Inside-Out, Galerie des KULturZentrums Kapfenberg, Kapfenberg, Austria
2009 - 10degreesN/10degreesS Design Exchange, The Sage, Gateshead
2009 - Souvenirs from behind the scenes, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
2009 - Ceramic Art London, Royal College of Art, London
2007 - CPA @ 50, The Gallery at Bevere, Worcester
2007 - Going Places, Riverhouse Barn, Henley on Thames
2007 - READesign, commissioned by Inspire, Mobile touring exhibition.
2006 - Solo show-new work, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
2004 - ....Ten years on, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
2003 - Showcase, Contemporary Ceramics, London
2004 - 1st European Ceramics Competition, New Town hall, Amaroussion, Greece
2004 - First Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Taipei County Yingee Ceramic Museum, Taipei, Taiwan 2003 - New Member Focus, Contemporary Applied Arts, London
2001 - Painterly Pots, Brewery Arts, Cirencester
2000 - Source, Royal Museum, Edinburgh
1999 - The Plate Show, Collins Gallery, Glasgow
1998 - Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh Group exhibitions
1997 - Art Rages, Amsterdam
1997 - British Work House Gallery, Dallas, USA
Curated projects
2008 - 10 degrees N/10 degrees S - design exchange, Exhibition at Sage, Newcastle Oct 09; St. Etienne, Dec09, Newcastle upon Tyne & St. Etienne, France
Residencies
2014 Artist in residence, Medalta, Alberta, Canada
2010 - Craft Bursary creative development project, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee
2007 - Guest Artist in Residence, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, USA
2005 - Artist in residence, University of Sunderland, Sunderland
Commissions
2009 - Award piece commissioned for Gaelic Ambassador of the year
2009, Scottish Government, Scotland
2006 - Award pieces for Arts & Business Scotland - Annual Awards
2006, Edinburgh Publications
2011 - Producing Ceramic Art Through Tourism Research, Annals of Tourism Research
2011 - The Tourist Experience, Ceramic Review, issue 248
Other
2011 - Work purchased for Future Craft Collection, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
2011 - Work purchased for Museum Collections, University of Dundee, Dundee
2011 - 'Producing Ceramic Art Works Through Tourism Research' co authored by Kevin Hannam and Kevin Petrie, Annals of Tourism Research, vol 39
2013 - 'Hunting the Touristic Animal through Ceramic Art in Alberta, Canada', co authored by Kevin Hannam, in 'Travel, Tourism and Art (ed T.Rakic & J.Lester)