Dianne Cross is a ceramics artist, based at Riddlesden, near Keighley. A former tutor at Leeds college of Art (now Leeds Arts University) she taught ceramics, plasterwork, kiln formed glass and other craft-based subjects. She now works freelance and makes hand-built ceramics including vases, lidded boxes, vessel forms and wall pieces.
She studied ceramics as a mature student after living in Canada, and working at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Dianne made reduction fired domestic stoneware for over 25 years in Otley and Pateley Bridge, building several gas kilns during this time.
Dianne is a member of the Northern Potters Association and her work has been widely exhibited at NPA and other shows, as well as in commercial galleries. Group shows have included those at Hatfield House; Waterperry House, near Oxford; Ceramics in Southwell and many others over the years.
Galleries have included the Kunsthuis Contemporary Gallery, Crayke; Water Street Gallery, Todmorden; Mill Bridge Gallery, Skipton; and the Craft and Design Centre, Leeds. Dianne’s work has also featured in Art in the Pen at Skipton, Art In Action and Potfest.
She has said of her recent work:
I want to evoke a feeling of the sea shore and coastline. These are imagined seascapes/marine landscapes rather than illustrating a specific view and encourage the viewer to see their own ‘picture’. Some are stormy and others quiet and calm. The hand built forms feature washes of cobalt and copper with occasional ‘pops’ of yellow over a matt white glaze on top of textured surfaces.
Artist’s website: Studio Pottery and at Facebook
(Artwork images above by courtesy of Dianne Cross.)