John Calver

John studied Civil Engineering at London University and worked as an engineer for 5 years in Newcastle upon Tyne and Kingston, Jamaica. Attendance at an Adult Education evening class in Newcastle aroused an interest in clay. That interest became all-consuming and, on his return to England in 1973 he established his own workshop at Yealand Redmayne in North Lancashire.
From 1973 to 1978 John produced a range of burnished and glazed earthenware. 1979 saw another opportunity to travel abroad and he spent 2 years in Egypt. On returning to his workshop in 1981, John began making stoneware fired in reduction, work which he continues to the present.
Present Work
Domestic stoneware using Potclay's White St. Thomas' body; decorated at leather-hard stage by slip-trailing, sponge-stamping and impressing; biscuit-fired; multiple glaze pours using glazes of my own formulation; fired in reduction to 1300oC in a 30 cu. ft downdraft kiln.
John particularly enjoys the rich and varied surfaces that can be achieved when a number of glazes and slips interact together.

Exhibitions
1973 John Peartree Gallery, Kingston, Jamaica
July 1985 Linton Court Galley
June 1986 Lancashire Polytechnic
April 1987 Post Office Gallery, Quernmore, Nr. Lancaster