Sky view

Posted on November 27, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Acava Studios, Building, Cold, Fine Art, Heating, Memory, Stoke-on trent, Studio2 Comments

It’s almost a couple of years since I left the Acava art studios at the Spode factory site in Stoke on Trent. I had some good times there painting and getting to know some lovely people.

I won’t miss the freezing cold corridors in winter. I was cosy in my studio, but open the door and the temperature dropped. If you went and made a coffee in the kitchen it would be tepid by the time you got back to your room!

The building had a large mass, which didn’t matter when the kilns were lit, it would hold heat really well, but as a result of the pottery closing and being emptied the building no longer stays warm.

I miss being there. I’m sad I had to leave. But I could no longer afford it. At least I got some good photos while I was there.

Spode

Posted on March 6, 2024 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Acava Studios, Acrylic on canvas, Batik, Exhibition, Fine Art, Life, oil on wood, retrospective, Spode site, WatercoloursLeave a comment

Have I mentioned that I have an exhibition at Spode, it can be viewed this Friday between 6.30 and 8.30. It’s at Acava Studios, up the yellow stairs, at Spode Works, Elanora street, Stoke upon Trent, ST4 1QD (I think).

If you are in the area and would like to come along you are very welcome.

It’s eclectic and interesting, with one work from 1982 that is an oil painting on an old cupboard door because I couldn’t afford a canvas. There are several portraits of my hubby from over our life together.

I’ve also included landscapes and portraits, abstract paintings, views of Spode works, and views of a nebula and Jupiter and Mars. There are also watercolours and batik prints. I’m interested in a lot of things and I hope this exhibition will show my explorative fine art practice.

Floor paint

Posted on February 23, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Acava Studios, Art, Ceiling, chipped, Cold, concrete, Memories, Scratched, shiny floor, Spode siteLeave a comment

Seeing the floor in the Spode Factory is a memory of what went before. Industry and creativity joined. Scratched and chipped, the surface is damaged. Most of it is hidden by studios on either side of a central corridor. When you go into the studios some have metal, single glazed windows that let in the cold of winter. And once the cold gets in it doesn’t seem to get warm again till March!

The building is solid concrete and brick, with arched, barrel shaped ceilings high above. I think any heat rises up there and is lost to us on the shiny, scratched floor.

But here people worked hard to create beautiful ceramics, magical pottery, a hive of hot activity that didn’t need heating because of the kilns and machinery, now long gone.

Two years ago

Posted on January 27, 2021 Posted in Fine Art, UncategorizedTagged Acava Studios, Acrylic on canvas, Art, Blue, juno, Memories, Painting, Photo, Two yearsLeave a comment

I was in my studio trying to paint the swirls of clouds near the poles of Jupiter photographed by the Juno probe.

Now I’m staying home most of the time to stay safe. I want to go back but I don’t want to see people if I can avoid it. I will go back, hopefully when I’ve had the vaccine.

Reflecting

Posted on July 6, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acava Studios, Art, Blogging, Eleanora street, Lfe in lockdown, Life, Memory, Spode site, Spode studios, Staffordshire, Stoke, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

IMG_20190816_133233_optimized

This is from last year or the year before when I was taking photos at Spode and manipulating them in the layout app that I use to mirror and duplicate photos.

I haven’t been down to my studio at Spode for months with the lockdown, it just didn’t feel safe. The studios are not easy to socially isolate at, with mixed toilets and narrow corridors. I need to go back and build my confidence again. I’m still paying the rent though. I won’t give up on the idea. Just wait! I hope I will soon be creating there again

Tidying my studio

Posted on September 6, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acava Studios, BCB, British ceramic biannual, China Halls, Eleanora st, kingsway entrance, Open studios, Opening, Painting, Spode site, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Stoke-upon-Trent, Weekend of art2 Comments

It had to happen, I’ve moved things round so people can get into the studio for the two open days tomorrow and on Sunday. I got rid of a bit of junk and moved some paintings around. I’ve also moved my big table to the back of the studio instead of its old position where it was not really being used. What I do need a small table to put my paints and palette on. Maybe an old stool or something. I have another chair which I could use but it has a back which might get in the way.

So I’ve got two days to try and meet and greet people. If you come along you will also see a fantastic exhibition of people’s idea of what Spode meant to them, and of course the British Ceramic biannual in the Spode China halls will have started so there will be so much to see. Enjoy!

Talking of glass

Posted on July 14, 2019July 14, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acava Studios, Angela Ashton's glass workshop, Art, Design, Eleanora st, Fun, Glass, Glass workshop, Spode, Spode site, Staffordshire, Stoke, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

DSC_glass drop made at Angela's workshop

This is the glass drop piece that I mad in Angela Ashtons glass workshop thy I put together last week. I think it’s turned out really well. I am going to put something on about some glass marbles and my smaller glass pieces later on, but I’ve been out since 10am and it’s almost 6pm and to be honest I’ve sat down and don’t want to move!

I love working with glass. I’m so glad I’ve started exploring it. Thank you Angela x

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Acava Studios