Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture
Elaine Lim-Newton’s contemporary ceramic sculptures combine influences from complex natural forms, contrasting architectural structures and her dual British and East Asian heritage.
Working exclusively by hand in her Derby studio, each piece is meticulously hand-built using coiling, slabbing and modelling techniques from stoneware, red and porcelain clays. The intricate elements are created and applied individually, this instinctive process gives each piece a sense of movement and a life of its own. Bold coloured glossy and matt textural glazes are used to enhance each form and give an enticing tactility to each piece.
Over two decades of sculpting experience have taken Elaine’s work beyond the studio, from public commissions for hospitals and civic spaces to regular gallery exhibitions and events.
Alongside her own practice elaine has extensive experience in teaching ceramics through artists residencies, workshops and events across the uk.
My Ceramic Journey
As an inquisitive child i have always had a love for the arts and nature, for making, growing and creating.
I have distinct memories of a voracious desire to draw all over any book or surface i could find no matter the consequences!. But it wasn’t until i left Northamptonshire in 1999 to study applied Arts did i find my love for ceramics graduating with a BA Hons in Applied Arts from Derby University.
Since then my love of clay as a medium of artistic expression has only gone from strength to strength. A love of nature and particularly the many forms found in flora and fauna i feel stem from my childhood home filled to the brim with exotic plants by my mother, who emigrated from malaysia in the 60’s.
This love of the beauty of nature contrasts with a fascination with the permanence of solid structural forms as found in architecture, especially of the brutalist style. i think i find a ‘soothing’ aspect to the repetitive aspects of many designs and a form of comfort in there durability and permanence. This desire to marry these two seemingly opposed interests i find fascinating.
My dual british and malaysian/ chinese heritage also plays an important part of my work often in a subtle way, i am continually exploring my personal feelings of identity of feeling other, of a desire to have community and belonging within my practice.
Derby Ceramic Artist
I am currently designing and creating my sculptures and projects from my own small but mighty studio in my Derby Garden.
I am very much proud to be part of Derbys rich artistic community, which i feel is often overlooked its a personal mission of mine to make it loud and clear that Derby is a fabulous vibrant city!
As a small part of this i have started a ‘Clay Club’ in my home area of mickleover Derby, introducing clay through regular beginner friendly workshops with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
If you would like to book or for more info follow this link