Sonya Wilkins

I am both a passionate potter, (recently qualified in a Masters in Fine Art Ceramics at Bath Spa University), and I am also a Reiki Master Teacher. These combined qualifications allow me to create with clay using powerful healing intention – the goal ‘to create ceramic vessels for wellbeing’.

We all know that art is good for the Soul, but I take this a step further. I harness nature’s beauty by using real leaves in every piece. Furthermore, I infuse universal life force energy (Reiki) into the clay as I work which transfers high frequencies of energy and intention into clay. My hope is that this high frequency energy can be experienced by those touching, holding and ‘being’ with the piece; that my vessels become conduits for wellbeing.

Past collections have seen me influenced by the Fibonacci sequence in nature using ferns. My new collection is directly influenced by the transformative energy of trees. Here I use ceramic, wire and willow to imbue the flow of energy in tree branches.

My making methods allow me to play with the dance between control and freedom while throwing and hand building layered pieces on the potters wheel; listening to how the clay wants to move, while creating a pleasing form – a fluent conversation between clay and intention. I work in mixed clays (including wild clay) and porcelain, firing to stoneware temperatures. My decoration techniques focus on layering with oxides, glazes and lustres using sgraffito, stencilling and slip trailing.

I exhibit my ceramics at shows and galleries nationally. My tableware has been aired on BBC2 and ITV and I teach online pottery courses and healing courses to students world wide.

I also create wellbeing installations with my ceramics and tree projections – please view the video to experience ‘Haven‘.