Richard Heeley grew up in Stoke on Trent. Surrounded by pottery from an early age, he always new pottery would be an important part of his life. In 1996, he formally trained at the Manchester Metropolitan University in Ceramics and Design where he obtained his BA Hons.
His designs are developed on the North Wales coast, a rich source of inspiration where he spends a quarter of his working year recording a variety of the different textures, shapes, colour and structure of the coastal landscape. He also draws on Eastern ceramic traditions to influence his designs and techniques, especially Korean 16th century ware from the Chosôn dynasty.
Selected Exhibitions
2021 Landscapes in Fire and Water, The Stratford Gallery, The Cotswolds
2021 Potfest in the Park, Hutton in the Forest
2019 Surface, The Leach Pottery, Cube Gallery
2019 Ceramic Art London, St Martins
2019 Art in Clay, Hatfield
2019 Oxford Ceramics Fair
2018 Chawan, International Teabowl Exhibition, The Stratford Gallery
2018 A Sense of Place - Craft in the Bay, Cardiff.
2018 Art in Clay, Hatfield.
2018 Earth & Fire, Welbeck Estate.
2017 Potfest in the Park, Hutton in the Forest
2017 Art in Clay, Hatfield
2016 Drawing Inspirations: Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
2016 Potfest in the Park, Hutton in the Forest
2016 Earth & Fire, Rufford Abbey
2016 Oxford Ceramics Fair
2015 Ceramics in the City: Geffrye Museum, London
2015 Ceramic Art York
2015 Innovations in Ceramic Art, Cambridge
2014 New Gallery On Old Bailey, Hong Kong
2014 Earth & Fire, Rufford Abbey
2014 New Ashgate Gallery, Autumn Showcase
2013 Insight into Beauty, Chawan, Embassy of Japan, London
2013 Chawan International exhibition, Taiwan
2013 Bevere Gallery, July Showcase
2012 Handmade in Britain: Chelsea.
2011 Surrey Guild, Christmas Show, Guildford
2011 Ceramic & Glass Fair, Dulwich
Lectures and Demonstrations
2019 The Clay Loft, Invitation to lecture and demonstrate
2019 Anglian Potters, Invitation to lecture and demonstrate
2019 North Wales Potters, Invitation to lecture and demonstrate, AGM
2019 Potclays, Porcelain Masterclasses (2019, 2018, 2017)
2018 Clay College Stoke, Tea bowls talk and demonstration
Cardiff University, Tea bowl demonstration, in conjunction with Drawing Inspirations exhibition, Craft in the Bay
2009 V&A, Demonstration on Surface Decoration
2009 V&A, Opening of the new galleries
Professional Associations
Selected a Professional member of the Craft Potters Association
Member of the North Wales Potters
Publications
The Teabowl, Bonnie Kemske, Bloomsbury Publishing
Ceramic Review, issue 309 Potters on Pots May / June 2021
Ceramic Review, issue 262 Pots & Recipes July / August 2013
Edges in the Landscape, self-published book