Ed Dawes – Ceramic

1970–1973 I studied ceramics at Manchester College of Art where I met my wife Sue. Awarded New Craftsman grant by the Crafts Advisory Committee. Won first place in a national ceramics competition judged by Victor Magrie of the Craft Council. Part of the award was a residency at Chester Arts and Recreational Trust who hosted the event. During this period Sue and I were commissioned by Chesters’ Grosvenor Museum to replicate some of the Roman pottery in their collection. Having researched techniques of manufacture and decoration used from prehistoric to medieval we earned a national reputation for our work which was used in many museums for educational services, display as well as retail. My sliptrailed owls were a feature of the retail department in the Hanley Museum, Stoke on Trent. Our clients included English Heritage,The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, BBC Television and Roman Army Museums. I won first prize; this being the Ophelia Gordon-Bell award at the Lake Artists Exhibition held at the Rheged Centre, Penrith.