Maggie Feeney

Maggie Feeny

88 Springfield Road

Brighton, Sussex, BN1 6DE. UK

01273 297672

Maggie trained to be a teacher of art and design back in 1983 at Froebel Institute, London. She taught G.C.S.E. Art to special needs children for 14 years.

Maggie studied ceramics in her spare time until she took the plunge in 1998 and gave up teaching to develop her own work in clay, and subsequently in felt and garden design.

Last year Maggie travelled with her daughter and partner to Asia and Australia, their trip was to last ten months. They worked voluntarily on organic farms and gardens in return for bed and board. During the year Maggie studied the beautiful landscape, the work of many abstract artists and made many paintings.

"Felt Collage" 110cm x 90cm

Australia 1999

The art of felt making was a new discovery, and she made a number of felt collages in the vibrant colours found in the Australian landscape. Maggie and her partner became artists in residence in the thriving town of Margaret River in Western Australia for three weeks, culminating in an exhibition of their work.

Back in her studio, Maggie has moved on with her slab-built slipware. Her colours have become more muted - shades of blues, greys, ochres and whites - building layer upon layer of coloured slip. Her recurring theme - abstract representations of objects within the landscape - a tree, a figure, a road system - can be seen in both the ceramics and her felt collages. They hold a simple clarity which is fresh and uplifting.

click on image to enlarge

High fired, slip decorated earthenware Jugs (detail)

30 cm high

Figure in resin on wooden plinth

1999

High fired, slip decorated slab built Earthenware Jug

15cm high

Her love of the landscape has inspired her to spend some of her spare time studying gardening and garden design. She has already completed her first commission; a Brighton front garden featured in New Insight magazine.

ceramic slip decorated vases