Chloë Dowds

Merit Award

Chloë Dowds completed a BA in Fine Art (Ceramics) at GMIT in 2008, an MA in History of Art & Architecture at the University of Limerick in 2012 and the DCCOI’s Ceramics Skills & Design course in 2014. She lives and works in Wicklow and makes tactile porcelain tableware.

Every element of design has been considered to stimulate and heighten the user's experience of the piece. The work is wheel-thrown and then altered. She adds a spiral in the soft clay, then makes an indent where the handle will go. This activates the sense of touch and makes the mugs very comfortable to hold. She indents a line into the handles as a texture for the thumb to explore. The rims of the mugs are thrown thinly so they are crisp and pleasing for the lips. The base of each piece is individually polished leaving the translucent porcelain soft to the touch. The glossy glaze compliments the curves and echoes the use of liquid. She employs a soft, contemporary colour palette reflecting the subtleties of colour she sees within her environment, mixing glazes by hand to special recipes. Craftsmanship and attention to detail are central to her work.

Chloë Dowds applied for a Golden Fleece Award to purchase equipment (a pugmill and electric kiln) that will assist in the production of her commercial wholesale tableware while also freeing up time for her to work on more experimental gallery-based pieces.