JOSSE DAVIS

Born in 1959, Josse Davis is the son of ceramist and painter Derek Davis and painter Ruth Davis. He graduated from Bath Academy of Art in 1981 (BA hons ceramics), and has since lived and worked in Arundel, West Sussex.

Figurative and often described as traditionally English in his approach to decoration, his work is divided into two distinct styles; the loose and spontaneous and the more subtle and disciplined.

Although found in his stoneware the spontaneous decoration is most evident in his Raku pieces. The second style of decoration is more refined and is the emotional balance to the first. These pieces of work are less colourful and more tonal. Under a zinc white stoneware glaze thin layers of iron and balck are meticulously painted, smudged back and painted again until the required subtle tonal changes are achieved.

The Raku pieces are decorated with every day scenes such as a pub interior, an escalator on the London Underground or a bus queue. In addition he has used the animal and bird motifs on both the Raku and stoneware pieces.

Josse has taught ceramics at Slindon College, Syon House and Portsmouth City Museum (amongst others).

He has exhibited at Beax Art, Bath; Leigh Gallery, London; Cre Gallery, London; Guildhall, Winchester; West Dean College; London Potters Summer Show; Amalgam Gallery, London; Hove Museum and Pallant House, Chichester.