About

Hella Keevil is a Kent based Ceramic artist. She is a member of Kent Potters Association (KPA) .She is also a member of Royal Tunbridge Wells Art Society . Both there memberships are active and give opportunity to showcase work She has given a few public talks with enthusiasm and loves to bring along experimental pieces that push boundaries.

Her love of ceramic started young. Traveling to Salvador , Colombia and South Africa seeing the wonderful shapes and colour .At school in the 70’s pottery was the creative class that sparked attention. She took A levels in Art, Maths and Biology.

Hella followed the Biology rout with a masters degree in medical microbiology. She worked as Sera Lab initially on antibody production then a few years later found a post at Marie Curie research institute. This was academic research looking where cells malfunction in the cellular division stage , a subject she found fascinating. In the lab it was always the experimental practical aspect that kept her excited. There was a lot of microscopy work involved and in the 80’s opportunity to develop your own images in the dark room. She was in charge of the Confocal microscope and spent many happy hours delving into the detail of mitosis.

Some years ago a new pottery school opened nearby with an opportunity to start classes. This was The Clay Studio east Sussex It became clear that it was going to be more than a hobby and she now has a basement studio with a kiln where she can take ideas further and experiment deeper. She works in stoneware from delicate porcelain to black chunky clays, often mixing clay bodies. She mainly hand builds and she feels there is more freedom of movement. Any wheel thrown pieces will be altered or carved. She has ongoing lines of interest often using plants to imprint. A trip to Sicily sparked the deep energetic joy she feels with black clay. Having felt the power of lava a trip to Iceland was an obvious next choice. The environment was setting more ideas in motion. Discovering porcelain paper clay, the extremely soft delicate clay is leading in some interesting directions, particularly exploring the translucent aspect.

Hella found that working with clay gives a deep level of stillness and wellbeing in this busy world. She volunteers at Pickering Cancer drop in centre running a monthly clay drop in class

Hella is fortunate to have Ashdown Forest nearby and spends happy times walking there in all weathers and seasons. She takes photos and impressions. The love of trees lead to a range of birch inspired vases. Mushroom shapes feature widely too.