NO.16 CLAUDIA RANKIN: UP OUR STREET - 8 Holland Street's neighbours, near and far

Claudia Rankin’s first taste of ceramic form, pattern and colour came from her antique dealer mother who dealt in oriental porcelain ‘The house was full of wonderful pots, coming and going and I think a part of me kept hold of that.’ 

Born in London, an MA in sculpture at Newcastle University brought her up to Northumberland where she settled with her husband, had children and established her studio.

Inspiration often comes from travels abroad. Visiting family in South Africa, Claudia first came across ceramicist Hylton Nel, who’s work has been inspirational. Closer to home a collaboration with Charleston Farmhouse led to so much joy in the collections of the Bloomsbury Group.  Her studio shelves feature clay spattered catalogues and much loved books on other favourite artists including Picasso, Miro and Guidette Carbonell. British artists like Rose Wylie and Ann Stokes have also been hugely influential. Her expressive sculptures of, for example, bears, tigers and lions are often manifestations of people in Claudia's life, rendered with a sense of mischief and affection…. "something that's not too sweet or too pretty’ as she puts it.

Claudia's studio is a refuge for creativity, where she is never bored. When she goes away she's collecting drawings from museums and flea market treasure to bring back to the studio…. "in many ways, making is central to everything I do".