Alan Brough
Alan Brough's GalleryBorn 1924, Wilmslow, Cheshire
Alan Brough studied at Manchester School of Art until being called up for Naval Service at the end of 1942. After the war he took Intermediate and National Diplomas in Art at Camberwell School of Art and Crafts and upon leaving set up a studio at Sidmouth Street in London. In those days he supplied London stores such as Harrods, Fortnum's, Primavera and Anchells off the King's Road.
In 1959 he left London and established a workshop in Brixham, Devon, supplying galleries and shops. He also worked for Dartmouth Pottery as a designer.
Ever searching for improvement and knowledge in his craft, he came to work at the Leach Pottery in 1968, where he stayed until 1972. He then had a studio in Newlyn from 1972 until 1994, where he produced stoneware and porcelain pieces. Since 1994 he has been working from his current pottery, Tremithick Cross Studio in Penzance.
Artist Statement:
My father, a sculptor and woodcarver, introduced me to clay. From an early age I appreciated the versatility of the material. My current work on show at Tremithick Cross Studio is the culmination of many years of study and a love of the craft.
The time I spent studying and working with Bernard and Janet Leach in St Ives has been a major influence on my work. Thanks to their encouragement and instruction, a vast amount of information about clays, glazes, firing of kilns and historical information was made available to me there.
There are so many aspects of the craft, ranging from the wonderful discipline of throwing a good pot to the construction of slab work and sculptural pieces – that I have attempted to put together a variety of examples to represent these different aspects, be it decorative or utilitarian objects in both stoneware and porcelain.
My glazes are simple and are researched from sources such as the V&A, the British Museum and Fitzwilliam Museum.
At the age of 76 I still find great pleasure in spending a few hours every day in my studio, ever humiliated by the enormous presence and challenge of a material, which has been a constant companion and friend to man over the ages.
Alan Brough, April 2004
Alan Brough has exhibited at:
Primavera, Anschells, Scribes Cellars, Baliol College, Bill Toop Gallery, Cornwall Crafts Association, Penlee House, Newlyn Orion Gallery, Leach Pottery Showrooms, Katrina Holm (Sweden), Beaux Arts (Epinay, Paris), Gallery Les Adrets (Cannes), Out of the Blue (Marazion), and in private collections.