Artist Bio
Michaela, born in Derbyshire in 1966, is an accomplished artist and ceramicist whose work blends painting, drawing, and sculpture. While she has spent most of her life in Derbyshire, she also lived for five years in St Ives, Cornwall, where she had a studio at The Gaolyard and worked with the Tate Gallery. Michaela specialises in innovative approaches to decorating clay, treating it as a canvas for both artistic expression and traditional ceramic techniques.
Michaela’s artistic journey began with formal training in painting and drawing, but it wasn’t until her university studies in Sustainable Design that she discovered ceramics. Specialising in sculpture made from locally sourced brick clay, Michaela was mentored by renowned ceramicists Josie Walters, Jeremy James, Tim Willey, and Svend Bayer, as well as the late Gwen Heeney. Their guidance shaped her deep understanding of the material and the transformative potential of clay.
In addition to her own practice, Michaela has taught ceramics and led workshops for many years. She also ran a pottery painting café business in St Ives, Cornwall, for three years, where she facilitated regular pottery, art, and craft workshops. Most recently, Michaela completed a PGCE, further expanding her teaching expertise.
Sustainability is a core theme in Michaela’s work, reflected in her conscious choice of materials and making methods. She is committed to creating art that honors the environment while maintaining a high standard of craftsmanship and creativity.
Michaela’s work has been exhibited widely, including at the Tate Modern in 2019 as part of a staff biennale, and she held a solo exhibition at Buxton Art Gallery in 2014, supported by the Arts Council. She has also exhibited in St Ives, Brighton, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire.
Her artistic contributions have earned her recognition in public art commissions, and she was chosen to create the awards for the Art & Business Awards at Newstead Abbey in 2006. Michaela’s diverse body of work continues to explore the intersection of nature, emotion, and material, inviting viewers to connect with the beauty and fragility of the world around us.