Nicky Billington

After studying Textile Design at University and working as a designer in London, I returned to Cheshire and began my career in teaching Art and Design and Textiles.

Since retiring from teaching I have prioritised creating my own work, exhibiting and trying to refine my practice.

The work I have created is inspired by the landscape and the ‘structures found within it.’ Growing up on a farm I fell in love with derelict barns, rusty wire, peeling paint, lichens and decaying surfaces.

The landscape has been an inspiring visual reference point throughout my ceramic work and senses play a vital part; the texture, form, surface and colour found in this environment. The colours I have utilised in my glazes are mainly neutral and black with tiny proportions of orange and blue baler twine in. The black is derived from my love of bitumen paint.

I have relished every minute of working with clay and I wanted from day one to combine both textiles and ceramics, so I have produced a series of pieces that have embraced the two disciplines.