Bill Davies

Work

Bill Davies creates cermamic garden sculptures, water features and site specific sculptures.

Bill has been creating for twenty years, about twelve of which have been in the clay medium.

He likes to explore old techniques and processes experimenting with where he can take them. Often he will start with an idea, only to take the project in a totally different direction.

He uses many different firing styles such as pit firing, raku, smoke and high temperatures to allow a wide range of surface treatments.

"There is always a certain amount of randomness in my firing. When I open the kiln door it is like Christmas morning - I have a good idea of what I’m going to get but serendipity might just give me something else!"

Inspiration and training

Bill's inspiration comes mostly from nature - the patterns of erosion, the weathering of rock and land.

"I like to treat the surface as a canvas and explore how far I can push it."

Living in Raumati South, Bill finds the beaches, bush and natural surroundings stimulating. He also enjoys the extensive creative network on the Kapiti Coast.

Bill's training includes a four year Diploma in Visual arts from Whitireia Comunity Polytech and an Advanced Diploma majoring in ceramics under John Anderson.

Recent works

Currently Bill is working on a series of tall organic vases based on the amphora vessel. For these he is using textural clay as a base then covering the vase with slip to form different surface effects.

Bill says that he enjoys site specific commissions:

"The challenge of creating a one-off sculpture as the process of liaising with the client is as rewarding as the actually creating the work."

Email Bill.