Meet the artists: Jane Sheppard + Robert Woolner: Exploring inspiration and practice

We are delighted to offer a gallery talk with the two artists in our BREATHE exhibition, ceramicist Jane Sheppard and painter Robert Woolner.

 
Jane has had a long career of working with clay which began slipcasting doll parts and working as a ceramics technician before becoming a full time lecturer in further education. As subject leader for Ceramics at Bath College for 14 years she taught at all levels, increasingly in therapeutic work. Her parallel career as a practicing ceramicist began in the early 1990s, exhibiting nationally and internationally and gaining a development award from South West Arts. In 1998 she travelled through east and south Africa researching the use of ceramics as a traditional spiritual medium. She then returned as guest of the Potters Association of Namibia, leading workshops in the dunes of the Kalahari desert and at the University of Namibia with support from the British Council.

Robert Woolner trained at Camberwell School of Art where his tutors included Euan Uglow, Frank Auerbach and Robert Medley. In the 1960s Woolner was influenced by the impact and scale of American abstract expressionism. He was Director of Art at Canford School, Dorset from 1986 to 1990.  Since 1991 he has had at least one solo show a year in Dorset, London and Paris. 

The event is free to attend but places are limited. Reserve your place by emailing hello@vannergallery.com or giving us a call on 01722 501 551.