Biography

Paul Vining grew up in a home environment in which ceramics were prominent and much discussed. His father, Frank Vining*, was an influential teacher and head of ceramics at Cardiff College of Art during its formative years, when the department gained accreditation for both graduate and postgraduate awards. As a boy, Paul frequently helped his father in the workshop, gaining valuable knowledge of ceramic techniques and processes.

Paul works from a purpose-built studio in Cardiff, Wales, producing individual pieces of stoneware ceramics. The emphasis is on ceramic form and the pieces are often best displayed in pairs or small groups. Some pieces are thrown on the wheel, others coiled, and some produced using both techniques. Coiling is a slow process, but has the advantage of allowing more time in which to consider and adapt the form of the vessel as it emerges. The pieces are fired to 1250-1280°C either in an electric kiln, or in a gas kiln which Paul has built himself. He has developed his own glazes sometimes using local materials especially wood ash. His creative influences are diverse: in the field of ceramics, they range from prehistoric pottery to sculptural vessels made by twentieth-century studio potters such as Hans Coper and Colin Pearson.

Paul is largely self-taught, but is grateful for advice given by other ceramicists including Michael Hose, Geoffrey Swindell, Jack Welbourne and Graham Williamson.

Paul is an associate member of the Craft Potters Association.

*For further information on Frank Vining, please see the history page.