Sylvia has traditionally made pots to be used in the kitchen and pots for plants, but recently has enjoyed making one off pieces, that are not necessarily functional. Sylvia’s work is inspired by classical forms from different, ancient cultures; Etruscan, African, Korean, Roman and English Medieval – and is finding using terra sigillata slips with the smoke kiln makes a historical connection for her with potters from the past.

Sylvia has always made high fired reduced stoneware fuelled by gas or wood, but now, having recently moved to Northern Ireland, she has begun exploring lower temperature work, in a bid to reduce the environmental impact of high temperature firings. This change brings her into the world of earthenware, oxidised firings and exploring smoke firing.

On leaving college, Sylvia’s work was almost exclusively working with shino and ash glazes fired in a reduction kiln to 1300C.  As a member of the Craft Potters Association (CPA), and also of the Suffolk Craft Society, she has worked with salt glaze and wood firing potters in Wales, America and Scotland, and has built kilns in her own home studios fired with wood, propane, or natural gas, depending on the circumstances of where she was living and the impact on her surrounding environment.

The National Gallery approached her when they were planning a major exhibition of Caravaggio paintings in London, as her work complimented some of the pots in his paintings.  They chose jugs and bowls in her shino range as the colours, as well as the forms, resonated.