Chiswick artist selected for prestigious craft fair

Simon Fell's work to be exhibited at Chelsea Crafts Fair 2005

Ceramic artist Simon Fell was recently selected to take part in Chelsea Crafts Fair 2005.

The event, which takes place at Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, London SW3 will run from 11th to 23rd October 2005 (Closed Monday 17 October).  Fell will be exhibiting in week 1 (11th to 16th October.)

Chelsea is Europe's finest crafts fair, renowned for the quality of new ideas and craftsmanship. Fell will be showing provocative new work on the theme of firearms as well as works from his still life series. Although the work is made in clay and fired like conventional pottery it is more like sculpture.

The artist makes no bones about it’s lack of practicality. “I am not exactly making cups and saucers here,” comments Fell, “my work addresses issues like power, masculinity, scale, and value. You can clearly see forms including handguns, howitzers, tanks, fruit, plants,
bottles and houses but the precise meaning is left to the observer.”

The work is hand built from clay slabs and is glazed and fired to high earthenware temperature (1120C). The work is priced from £150 up to £1000. "Showing at Chelsea offers me a fantastic opportunity to reach a national audience. I think this is the kind of platform my work needs to find a substantial group of viewers. I will be rushed off my feet to get the work ready in time but I am really looking forward to seeing how people respond to the work." says Fell.

Simon Fell trained in Fine Art at Leeds Polytechnic (1972-75) he has had a life long interest in
pottery. His career path has taken him through Community Arts, to Illustration, to Web Design
and Ceramics. His selection to show at Chelsea. goes a long way to confirming his decision 2
years ago to make working in clay his main goal.

He lives in Chiswick and works at Redlees Studios in Isleworth, in West London.

September 5, 2005