A visual summary of a busy year .... Mixture of writing, commissions, exhibitions and taught workshops... and much thinking.....

Prints drying, - workshop, Ballenberg Switzerland in July

I run a ceramics and print course at Kurszentrum Ballenberg (www.ballenbergkurse.ch), near Brienz, Switzerland each year.


The centre is at one of the entrances to the Swiss Museum of Rural Life (www.ballenberg.ch). Over a hundred old buildings from different regions of Switzerland  have been relocated there. In addition various traditional agricultural methodologies are employed, with old breeds of farm animals, plants and crops. Traditional craft skills are retained in the processing of the varied natural materials harvested in the park. The Ballenberg Kurszentrum runs a huge variety of craft courses, from the traditional and agricultural  to the contemporary and visual.


Here are some images from the past few visits to Ballenberg...

Kiln furniture

Drying rack for decals

Stove tiles, farmhouse Ballenberg

Farmhouse Ballenberg, and sausages curing (smoking) inside

Pizza oven and Willow seat Ballenberg centre

Hoftstetten the village nearest Ballenberg is well known for its wood carving. All the local   signposts are adorned by carved forms, some can also be found in Brienz town

On the way home, called in to see the wonderful gardens at Het Loos (www.paleishetloo.nl) near Amsterdam, here’s a very small selection of images... a surreal place...

Images from the Coach House

More from 2008 to follow in the next few days.....