Crafts in conversation

Join Crafts editor Debika Ray as she talks to Dorcas Casey, Leora Honeyman and Nico Conti, three artists who were awarded residencies at the 2021 British Ceramics Biennial. They will discuss their residencies, the work it led to, what it means to be an artist working today and exhibiting in the home of British ceramics.  There will be time at the end for questions from the online audience.

This discussion is for

• Any artist interested in artist residencies and who would like to learn about the experience
• Early career artists looking to connect with other creatives in learning about the different pathways their careers can take
• People interested in the careers, artwork and ideas explored by Nico, Leora and Dorcas

About the artists

Dorcas Casey

Dorcas Casey is a Bristol-based artist. She studied Sculpture at Winchester School of Art and completed a Masters in Multidisciplinary Printmaking at UWE. She is a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors, having been awarded a bursary from them.  She has exhibited her fabric sculptures at Banksy’s Dismaland and performed with her costumes at Glastonbury Festival and Hauser and Wirth Somerset. She was commissioned to work as lead artist for Artichoke’s PROCESSIONS in 2018 and awarded a QEST Scholarship to study bronze-casting in 2019. In 2021 Dorcas won the ACS Studio Prize and was elected as an Academician at the Royal West of England Academy. Dorcas was awarded an Arts Council Grant to develop her ceramic sculpture practice and exhibited her work in the British Ceramics Biennial where she was awarded a FRESH residency at the Guldagergaard Ceramics Research Institute in Denmark.

Visit Dorcas’ website.

Nico Conti

Nico Conti is a Maltese artist currently residing in London. After completing his BA (Hons) in Fine Arts at the Institute for the Creative Arts in Malta in 2016, he moved to London to pursue ceramics studies at the Royal College of Art. During his time at the RCA, Nico received several awards and was also extended an invitation to present his 3-dimensional printed work to HRH, the Prince of Wales. It was during this experience that Nico explored novel approaches to subverting processes, melding his fondness for materials with his inquisitive nature. Recently, Nico relocated his studio back to Malta, and his work is now featured in prestigious galleries and collections worldwide.

His forms often evoke nostalgic memories of nature and religious architecture. Rooted in the tradition and heritage of his upbringing, Nico’s work is inherently autobiographical. By juxtaposing humble materials like clay with cutting-edge technologies in 3D printing, Nico infuses his creations with qualities of elegance, balance, luxury, and beauty.

Visit Nico’s website.

Leora Honeyman

Leora Honeyman is a graduate of the Royal College of Art, holding a Master’s degree in Ceramics and Glass. Born in Zimbabwe, the wonder of the local culture, flora and fauna filled her senses. These influences still pervade her work.  

Leora broke from her earlier career in architecture to raise her son and she emerged in 2018 with a passion for ceramics, to which she has since dedicated herself. In 2022 Leora became a QEST scholar, funded by Bendick’s to complete her Master’s degree and train in industrial pottery techniques, braiding and borosilicate glass blowing. Her graduation show in 2022 attracted attention across the crafts world and media, finding her featured in the Crafts Council’s new talent lineup and selected for Corrine Julias’ ‘Formed with Future Heritage’ showcase. 

Since winning the Fresh Talent Resident Artist award as an exhibitor in Fresh at British Ceramics Biennial 2021, Leora returns to the 2023 biennial, presenting new work produced during her residency hosted by BCB.

Leora has featured in several media publications including Ceramic Review and Crafts magazine. Her work has shown at the Design Museum, Pad Design, Artifact and the BCB. to name a few and she is represented by the prestigious Gallery Fumi.

Visit Leora’s website.

Online Access

• We will enable captions for anyone to access during the event and download them after  
• We are recording this event

If there is anything we can do to support your participation in the event, please email info@britishceramicsbiennial.com to discuss what we can put in place for you.

Crafts is a media partner for British Ceramics Biennial. Published by the Crafts Council since 1973, it brings together a dynamic global community of makers, curators, collectors, thinkers and cultural influencers pushing the boundaries of making.