Katie B

00:00:03 My name is Katie B, I’m a Ceramicist, or Ceramic Artist. I make sculptural ceramic wall installation pieces. I did used to make quite a bit of tableware, cups and bowls and things like that, but just didn’t really – felt myself being too much like a production line and wanted to kind of started making one off pieces, slightly bigger, getting back to my sculptural kind of roots.

00:00:37 School for me was pretty nasty experience I think, all round, you know, and I’m not a very academic person, I’m dyslexic. And because I was quite unenthusiastic about school I didn’t really – I was quite unenthusiastic about a career. And I had a choice of what subjects I wanted to do, so you know feeling like Oh I’m a bit stupid I have to do Art ‘cause I know I’m not going to do anything. And I had two really good Ceramics Teachers that were really encouraging and – quite young as well – so they were kind of like on my level, and you know could relate to me and stuff.

00:01:17 When I was at A levels they were like – Why don’t you do – why don’t you go and do Ceramics or an Art degree? And I was just like pouf! Do an Art degree, what am I going to do with an Art degree? You know the same attitude everybody has about Arts. And so I went travelling for a year. It was the biggest life-changing experience for me, after being in years of education, of not wanting to be there – enjoying it, it was something I was just suddenly – OK, this is my life education that I’m learning. I’m learning how to deal with people, I’m learning how to be independent.

00:02:03 So then I went to University, did a degree in 3D Crafts, where I wasn’t just working with ceramics, it was working with ceramics, wood, metal and plastics. And – so I had a pretty broad scope of things, and got to try a load of different stuff, which was perfect for me because I didn’t know what I wanted to do solely.

00:02:32 Well the highest point of my career is now, is right now. I’m doing a commission for Stella McCartney’s stores in Tokyo and Paris. It’s the biggest compliment of my career, to get that kind of job, so far. I never thought – no I never would have even dreamt about it. It’s made – it’s made me think differently of the – again of the avenue that I want to take my work as well. Kind of working with more Architects, Interior Designers, public spaces. So it’s pushed me in another way.

00:03:23 In a way I wish that I could go back – maybe not GCSEs – maybe A levels a little bit – but degree as well, especially I wish I could go back, and if I could do it all again God I’d probably work really hard. But then I’ve got – I want to do an MA one day. So when I get there hopefully I will work hard. (LAUGHS)

ENDS