Vivienne Sillar

Vivienne was born in Glasgow in 1958 and spent every summer in the village of Kildonan, Isle of Arran. She is now able to divide her time between living in Chesterfield, Derbyshire and also regularly visiting Kildonan several times a year.
Trained at Grays School of Art, Aberdeen (1976 -1981) she specialised in sculpture and ceramics. Soon after graduating she started a 30 year period of working in Arts Administration, Gallery Education and Lecturer in Art and Design, working in Sunderland, Cumbria, Sheffield and Chesterfield. Having worked at helping others to show, appreciate and create artwork she has now returned to focus on her own creativity. She is a member of Peak District Artisans and Northern Potters and exhibits widely throughout the year. Check website for details www.viviennesillarceramics.uk 
Influences in her work are the natural world, found objects and texture and pattern.
I am a compulsive beachcomber. Every walk along the shore provides a starting point for another piece of work. Streamlined, fluid shapes of birds and sea creatures are a source of inspiration for me as a sculptor in clay. I employ diverse materials such as seaweed, banana skins, and avocados in the smoke firings to create the random markings on the surface of each piece. Each work is unique and cannot be repeated.