» Artists & Makers

ARTISTS & MAKERS OF FROME

With Fabio from Puro Ceramics

What is your artistic background? My background is in graphic design and web design, but before that, I also had a brief stint in fashion. I’ve loved to design, create, make things by hand and paint since I was a child. I initially explored fashion, but it didn’t work out for me. I moved into the graphic design industry, where I worked for a long time – until finally, the craft of ceramics called me again, and I decided to embrace my true passion.

What made you follow this path? Growing up in Tuscany instilled in me a joy in the process of making. I have always found great pleasure in creating and building things by hand – it came easily and naturally.

The growing love of creativity invoked a hunger to explore, and I soon moved to Florence and then to London, seeking a wider perspective. Over the twists and turns of the years that followed, I found myself stuck in my design day job, in front of a computer, unfulfilled, in a world that was going in a direction I couldn’t relate to – consumerism, disposable low-quality products, seasonal trends and so on. It didn’t feel real to me. I realised I needed to reconnect with nature and a slower, more natural way of living and being.

This new path led me to seek out ways to connect more deeply with the Earth, organic shapes and raw materials, ultimately leading me to the elemental world of clay and the craft of ceramics. What is your physical creative process? What materials and techniques do you use? I mainly use stoneware clay, but I’m in the process of testing a new collection with terracotta – so I might expand on that. My ceramics are hand-built using slab, coiling and pinching techniques. I like organic shapes and the beauty behind imperfections. They make it feel real to me and connected to the natural world. In my process, I try to celebrate imperfections and be guided by the tactile qualities of the materials. When glazing, I try to let the shapes and clay speak for themselves, using as few touches as I can and playing on the contrast of roughness of the clay and smoothness of the glaze.

What inspires your work? Connection with nature is at the core of my work, and nature’s simplicity and beauty constantly inspire me – its shapes, colours, textures, and imperfections.

I also take my inspiration from the land I come from. I saw lots of tableware around me growing up as a child, which got imprinted into my memory and worked as a source of inspiration for my work. Tuscany has a long tradition of ceramics, architecture and sculpture; all of it was imprinted and transferred into my work somehow.

How did lockdown affect the way you work and create? Lockdown gave me the chance to spend more time creating ceramics. Before lockdown, I worked 1-2 days a week as a ceramist and most of the time as a web designer. During lockdown, this situation changed for the better. I increased my time working with clay and got the time and the motivation to develop more. Now I’m working almost full-time as a ceramist.

Where do you work from? Tell us about your studio. I have a small, cosy studio in Makers’ Yard, in Lower Keyford. It’s a vibrant contemporary event space, artist studios and creative community. My kiln is the king of the studio, as it takes most of the space – its name is Primo (it translates to: First), and we have a special relationship. I also have little good-luck helpers (kiln gods) I made from clay to bless the kiln anytime I fire.

What is your favourite place to be for artistic inspiration? A walk in the woodlands is always where I find a deeper connection with myself and where inspiration seems to flow more easily. I love the Longleat Woods, just a few minutes away from where I live, and I tend to go there when I’m stuck to expand my view, take a deep breath and come back re-energised and hopefully with some new ideas. Also, the ocean has very expanding and nurturing energy for my creativity. I love cold water and feel it always works as a powerful reset and refresh button.

What artists inspire you, & why? I admire lots of artists, so it’s tough to choose. A few ceramists are a constant source of inspiration for me: Paul Philp, I like his vases’ organic shapes and texture; they give me a feeling of timelessness; Wu Wei Cheng is a self-taught ceramist like myself; he makes beautifully sculptured, minimal functional ware; Poggi Ugo Ceramiche for their traditional Tuscany vases and home objects.

If you hadn’t become an artist, what would you have done? I cannot think about myself not being an artist of some sort. However, using my hands in contact with the earth is a possible alternative scenario. I think I could have been a happy organic farmer if not a ceramist.

How do you find the Frome area, in terms of creativity and artistic community? Frome feels like home to me, and I find there are so many inspiring creatives and artists here. It’s a great community, and it feels open and vibrant. I also love that people around Frome are very supportive of creatives, artists and small local businesses.

Are there any artistic processes/ disciplines which you haven’t worked in/with, but would like to? I would love to explore wood firing in my work. That’s something I never tried but always fascinated me. Outside my field, I would love to learn woodcarving – a beautiful technique to deepen my connection with nature.

How can people see and buy your work? They can buy my tableware and home objects via my website www.puroceramics.co.uk and follow me on social media. They can also find me at The Frome Independent on the first Sunday of each month or visit me in my studio at Makers’ Yard in Lower Keyford (by appointment only).

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