Hugh West

I was born in York in 1950, have been a studio potter since 1971. Moved to Central France in 2000 to the pottery village of La Borne.

I have worked with stoneware, porcelain and raku clays, fired in both wood and gas kilns, and made raku my speciality until a serious illness prevented me continuing. I now divide my time between making individual stoneware pieces and my photography. Inspiration comes from the surrounding forests, the village I live in and visits to the coast. Having lived a long time by the sea in Cornwall, I miss the ocean and take any opportunity to spend time photographing it.

Trained in ceramics at Herefordshire School of Art and Redruth School of Art (diploma with distinction). Exhibitions: numerous exhibitions in UK, Europe and Far East. Joint shows with John Maltby, David Leach in Tokyo in '70s; most recently in Seoul, South Korea (2005). Photographic exhibitions in France.,