Rebecca English

Since discovering the creative joy and meditative practice of ceramic art just two years ago Rebecca has burst onto Brisbane’s art and craft scene.

Her refined and oh-so-chic sensibilities are embodied in the ceramic art she makes and her growing number of collections run the gamut from tableware to jewellery.

My creative space is…

a “studio” set up under my back deck. However, the dining table up on the deck is almost always covered in work ready for glazing and sanding, my dining room houses a lot of packaging, stock and other ceramics-related “stuff”, and my bedroom holds a lot of bits and pieces for market fare. To me it is all very organised, but I think my family may beg to differ.

The last piece I created is…

wall hangings that I am trialling, earrings for a wholesale order and jewellery stands for my shop.

Inspiration for my art comes from…

beautiful objects I see. I store elements of them in my head and then they often pop out later as something of a hybrid. I’m also inspired by functional items and finding a way to make them in a beautiful way. Custom orders really inspire me too. I love these because they not only stretch me creatively, they also stretch my skills.

My art journey began…

unexpectedly. Over a 26 year career I had moved from being a graphic designer to running creative teams and then a national department. I ended up with a pretty spectacular case of burn out. I was told to rest for at least 3 months but ended up learning ceramics and becoming totally obsessed.

My art has taught me …

that I love being part of a community. Not just the ceramics community, but more broadly— I’ve been fortunate to be able to build a community of makers through founding a retail collective. I love being able to offer other makers an opportunity to sell their work. 

Making space in my life for art means…

balance. I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can work on my art 3-5 days a week (including weekends). It’s critical to my ongoing sense of calm to be able to create so I prioritise my time in the studio.

Who is your hero and why?

Maryam Keyhani, she’s a milliner and artist of Iranian descent living in Berlin and is honest about her battles between fun and light, and the dark heaviness of mental health issues. She is truly creative, free-spirited and brave.

Follow Bec on Instagram

Check out the Slowly Made Locals collective store