Giulia Matthews (Art Creations)

Giulia recalls the development of the basket bowl:

“I was asked to run an art activity for the guests at my friend’s wedding party.  It was important for me that they had something to take home with them at the end of their day.  From my experience, it was clear that people were not only fascinated by the process of basket making but were also very keen to have a go.  Starting the base of a basket can be the hardest part and therefore as a ceramic artist, I was inspired to make a ceramic bowl as the base leaving the willow-weaving as the fun activity.  The basket bowl was born!

Giulia is an established ceramic artist who is passionate about bringing nature-inspired art to all. 

Giulia started her career at St Albans College of Art & Design and then progressed on to take a Ceramic Design BA (Hons) Giulia now works from her home studio creating a range of nature-inspired pieces. She also uses a range of media beyond clay – from driftwood, sea-glass, slate, and willow throughout her unique ceramic pieces incorporating materials she finds while out and about in nature from her local surroundings Beach foraging and her own garden.

Giulia states: “When I was 11, my dad bought me my first kick-wheel which I’m still using to this day! We built a brick kiln in our garden and began pit firing my pottery in a sawdust kiln.  I started selling my wares at school summer fetes and on Saturdays at the market stalls in the old town, (Hemel Hempstead).  I used to dig clay from around the flint-stone in the garden and make clay pinch pots, line them with moss and sticks, place them in our hedgerows and hope that the birds would then nest in them!”

• Skep Making
• Basketry
• Cane (Basketry)
• Contemporary
• Garden Structures
• Hedgerow
• Living Willow
• Natural Fibres
• Recycled Materials
• Splint Wood / Oak
• Traditional
• Willow (Basketry)