Svend Bayer
Encyclopedia
Svend Bayer is a studio potter
described by Michael Cardew
as "easily my best pupil."
Bayer studied at University of Exeter
from 1965 to 1968 and began work at Wenford Bridge Pottery with Michael Cardew in 1969.
In 1972 he joined the Brannam Pottery
in Barnstaple
, where he worked as a thrower for a year. He has been described as probably the best of the potters to work at Wenford Bridge, and his large pots have been said to be "very powerful".
After travelling in the Far East, Asia and the United States, he set up his own workshop in Sheepwash Beaworthy
, Devon
in 1975.
He uses local North Devon ball clay
s and fires his kiln
with wood. He is known for boldly decorated domestic ware and very large garden pots.
Bayer has exhibited widely in Europe, the Middle East, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Studio potter
A studio potter is one who is a modern artist, who either works alone or in a small group, producing unique items of pottery in small quantities, typically with all stages of manufacture carried out by themselves. Studio pottery includes functional wares such as tableware or cookware, and...
described by Michael Cardew
Michael Cardew
Michael Cardew, OBE, was an English studio potter who worked in West Africa for twenty years.Cardew was the fourth child of Arthur Cardew, a civil servant, and Alexandra Kitchin, the eldest daughter of G.W.Kitchin, the first Chancellor of Durham University...
as "easily my best pupil."
Bayer studied at University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
from 1965 to 1968 and began work at Wenford Bridge Pottery with Michael Cardew in 1969.
In 1972 he joined the Brannam Pottery
Brannam Pottery
Brannam Pottery was a British studio pottery firm started by Thomas Backway Brannam in Barnstaple in 1848.Thomas Brannam took over the lease of an existing pottery at North Walk, and another in Litchdon Street Barnstaple. Like other pottery firms of the time the firm originally made utilitarian...
in Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
, where he worked as a thrower for a year. He has been described as probably the best of the potters to work at Wenford Bridge, and his large pots have been said to be "very powerful".
After travelling in the Far East, Asia and the United States, he set up his own workshop in Sheepwash Beaworthy
Beaworthy
Beaworthy is a village and civil parish in the West Devon district of Devon, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 236....
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
in 1975.
He uses local North Devon ball clay
Ball clay
Ball clays are kaolinitic sedimentary clays, that commonly consist of 20-80% kaolinite, 10-25% mica, 6-65% quartz. Localized seams in the same deposit have variations in composition, including the quantity of the major minerals, accessory minerals and carbonaceous materials such as lignite...
s and fires his kiln
Kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
with wood. He is known for boldly decorated domestic ware and very large garden pots.
Bayer has exhibited widely in Europe, the Middle East, North America, Australia and New Zealand.