Biography

Anne Gibbs was the recipient of the Purchase Prize (2023) at the National Eisteddfod of Wales whereby the National Museum Cardiff acquired a series of five ceramic works for their permanent collection. Anne was shortlisted for the Young Masters Grand Prize (2019) with the Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London and the British Ceramics Biennial (2015) Stoke-on-Trent. She was the recipient of a Creative Wales Award (2015) from the Arts Council of Wales. As part of the award, she travelled to Japan to receive lessons in Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. The experience has encouraged her to develop and examine the use of colour and composition in her practice. Anne received the Gold medal for Craft and Design (2012) at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. In 2017, her solo exhibition The Language of Clay:Still hosted by the Mission Gallery, toured various galleries in Wales. Group exhibitions include London Art Fair (2020) Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London. Cure3 (2020) Bonhams, London, Collect (2018) Saatchi Gallery, London represented by Ruthin Craft Centre. Anne has undertaken several artist-in-residency programmes, and her work is held in public collections in Wales, USA, Greece and Korea.

Anne lives and works in Cardiff, Wales. She holds a BA Honours in Fine Art, printmaking (1994), PGCE (FE) in (1999) and an MA Ceramics (2004) at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. Anne works as a freelance artist and maker in multifaceted roles, working to public commissions, teaching in schools and communities, and lecturing in universities throughout South Wales.

I work intuitively, often with a limited yet distinctive colour palette.

About

Brought up in a household where ‘make do and mend’ was encouraged, I would often play with a tin of odd buttons, scraps of fabric or balls of wool. This instilled my love of putting disparate miniature items together and being imaginative and inventive with materials.

For many years I have collected objects and materials from an array of places, such as antique shops and local woodlands.  Daily walks in my local woods are a constant source of inspiration, I am drawn to images of rocks and branches embellished in moss, curious shaped sticks, and natural materials to use with clay. My ideas are layered and multi-faceted and I enjoy combining and collaging components to create one-off pieces.

A research trip to Japan in 2015, funded by the Arts Council of Wales prompted a shift in my practice. The experience of Ikebana lessons - the art of flower arrangement- and the use of colour in Japanese confectionery were particularly influential.  Creating displays with flowers and foliage and seeing cakes which looked like miniature sculptures took me in a new direction.  The placement of objects and working with colour are now key to my practice.

Working with a limited colour palette and different techniques.

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Gibbs’ work is exquisite, delicious, and mischievously suggestive.
— Dr Frances Woodley, Culture Colony Magazine. 2017

Pink Cloud, bone china and stilt.

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CV

  • 2000 – present Self-employed artist.

    Contemporary ceramics: art, craft and education.

    Mentoring service to artists.

    Member of Design Nation - a national portfolio organisation of Arts Council of England.

  • 2002-2004 MA Ceramics, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff

    1997–1999 PGCE (FE) University of Wales Institute, Cardiff

    1991-1994 BA (Hons) Fine Art, First Class, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff

    1990-1991 Foundation Certificate, Portsmouth College of Art & Design

  • 2023- Artist Talk Hereford College of Arts, BA Contemporary Design Crafts and BA Jewellery Design

    2023- present Greenhill Special School, Trauma Informed School for boys, Rhiwbina, Cardiff

    2022 to present Mentoring service to artists

    2022 Lead Creative School Scheme, (LCSS) ACW, Sant Baruc Ysgol Cymraeg, Barry – ceramic sculptures

    2021 LCSS, Tir-Y-Berth Primary School, Hengoed, Caerphilly

    2019/2020

    • Visiting artist, drawing/clay masterclass, Criw Celf Denbighshire, Wrexham

    • Tutor, clay workshops, Arts & Education Network: South East

    • Mentor/tutor clay/print workshops, Inside Out Cymru, Blackwood

    2019

    • LCSS Park Primary School & Gilfach Fargoed Primary School, Bargoed

    • Clay workshops, Criw Celf,Cardiff, St.Cyres Secondary School, Penarth

    • Clay workshops, Criw Celf, Cardiff, Brynteg Comprehensive School, Bridgend

    • Clay workshops, CriwCelf, Cardiff, Cowbridge Secondary School, VOG

    • Drawing/clay course, Criw Celf, Cardiff,Summer school ,LHAC, Cardiff

    2018-2019

    • Tutor, clay workshops, Criw Celf, South East, Cwmbran

    • Lecturer, tutorials and workshops, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff

    • Visiting lecturer, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea

    2007-2019 Tutor, tutorials, workshops, Coleg Sirgar, School of Art, Carmarthen

    2014-2018 Visiting lecturer, tutorials, workshops, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff

    2012-2017 Visiting tutor, Hereford College of Arts, Hereford, England

    2006-2015 Visiting lecturer, tutorials, workshops, University of South Wales, Pontypridd

  • 2015 Bespoke exterior stoneware tiles, Addoldai Cymru / Welsh Chapels

    2008-2014

    • Freelance artist at Town & Landscape Ltd, Bridgend

    • Architectural bespoke tiles, interpretive wall panels, Ystalyfera, NPTCBC

    • Bespoke metal entrance feature and gate, Pontneddfechan, NPTCBC

    • Architectural tiles for heritage interpretation walkway, Pontardawe

    • Cast concrete and metal sign, Brynmenyn Industrial Estate, BCBC

    • Architectural designed bricks for traffic calming features, PortTalbot

    • New colour enhancement scheme for Briton Ferry Bridge, Port Talbot

    2014 Metal bespoke seats, Playworks, Cwmllynfell, Amman Valley,NPTCBC

    2012 Graphic illustrations and typeface for interpretation panel, Glyncorrwg

    2011 Vinyl bespoke designs for bus shelters, Afan Valley, Baytrans,NPTCBC

    2013 Eco Llynfi QR Code Project, hand-made ceramic plaques, Maesteg, BCBC

    2012 Hand made stoneware floor tiles, Caerau, Mid Glamorgan, BCBC

  • Solo Exhibitions:

    2023 Shift : Canfas Gallery, Cardigan, Wales

    2017 A language of Clay: Still. The Mission Gallery, Swansea. National Touring Exhibition throughout Wales

    2009 Anne Gibbs, Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre, Wales

    Selected Group Exhibitions:

    2023 Uncommon Beauty-Objects of Curiosity & Wonder, Makers Guild Wales

    2023 Cure 3, Bonhams, London

    2022 Without Borders, International Touring Exhibition - Wales, Kyoto, Nagoya, Venice

    2022 It’s the Thought That Counts, Aberystwyth Ceramics Centre

    2022 Lifting the Lid 2, University of South Wales

    2021 Awagami International Miniature Print Exhibition, Japan

    2021 Without Borders, Elysium Gallery, Swansea, Wales

    2020 Cure 3, Bonhams, London

    2020 A Language of Clay, New Brewery Arts, Cirencester, UK

    2020 Lifting the Lid, Art Spot Korin Gallery, Kyoto, Japan

    2020 London Art Fair, Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London

    2019 Young Masters Prize 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London

    2018 Is It Useful? Unit Twelve Gallery, Stafford

    2018 Collect, represented by Ruthin Craft Centre, Saatchi Gallery, London

    2017 Gallery in the Box, Llantarnam Grange, Arts Centre, Wales

    2016 Sweet Gongs Vibrating, San Diego Arts Institute, USA

    2015 Award, British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke on Trent, UK

    2015 Fragile? National Museum Cardiff, Wales

    2015 The Sensorial Object, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff, Wales

    2015 Collect, represented by Ruthin Craft Centre, Saatchi Gallery, London

    2015 Welsh Connections, Ruthin Craft Centre, Wales

    2015 Oriel Queens Hall Gallery, Narbeth, Wales

    2014 Oriel Davies Open, Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, Wales

    2014 Fourteen, Llantarnam Grange, Arts Centre, Wales

    2014 Maker in Focus, The Mission Gallery, Swansea, Wales

  • 2014 Design Wales Forum, Makers using Technologies, two-month residency, Cardiff

    2013 Heatherwick Studios, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, three-month residency, Wales

    2009 The Clay Studio, two-month residency, Philadelphia, USA

    2009 Cove Park, one-month residency, Scotland

    2004-2007 Afan Forest Park, three-year residency, Neath Port Talbot, Wales

  • 2023 Purchase Prize, The National Eisteddfod of Wales, Boduan

    2018 Gweithdy Gallery, St Fagan’s National Museum of History, Cardiff

    2015 Creative Wales Award, Arts Council of Wales, Research & Development

    2012 Gold Medal for Craft & Design, The National Eisteddfod of Wales, Cardiff

    2009 & 2010 Travel Awards to Philadelphia, USA, funded by Wales Arts International

    2009 Creative Wales Award, Arts Council of Wales, Research & Development

    2006 Creative Development Award, Arts Council of Wales

    2005 Selected for Third World Ceramic Biennale, Korea International Competition

    2004 Selected for First European Ceramic Competition, Athens, Greece

  • 2023 National Museum Cardiff, Wales

    2017 Ceramic Gallery Aberystwyth, Wales

    2015 Carmarthen County Museum, Wales

    2014 National Museum Cardiff, Wales

    2009 The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, USA

    2005 Icheon World Ceramic Centre, Korea

    • The Language of Clay: Still, Catalogue of touring solo exhibition, 2017

    • Ceramic Review, Profile Feature, July/August 2017

    • Culture Colony Quarterly, issue 12, 2017 http://www.culturecolony.com/review/pinning-things-down

    • Aur/Gold, National Eisteddfod of Wales/Millennium Centre/Craft in the Bay, 2014-01-29

    • Culture Colony Quarterly, issue 7, 2015

    • Craft Arts International, no 93,2015

    • New Directions in Ceramics; from spectacle to trace, Jo Dahn, Bloomsbury, 2015

    • Ceramic Review, Landscape, October 2012

    • Ceramics Art & Perception, issue 84, 2011

    • Of this Century: Residents, Fellows, and Select guest Artists of The Clay Studio, 2000 -2010. Exhibition Catalogue ISBN 978-0-9844588-2-0

    • Keramik Magazin, issue 4, 2004,1st European Ceramics Competition, by Jeroen Bechtold