Matthew Wilcock is a ceramic maker, educator and collector currently based in the Northeast of Scotland lecturing ceramics at Gray’s School of Art. Raised in a family of potters he has been working with clay from a young age. Matthew’s own practice focusses heavily on the traditions of making by hand using minimal technology and modern equipment. Research within his practice focusses mainly on post Arts and Crafts movement ceramics, i.e. 1920s onwards, the works made because of the collaborations between Bernard Leach, Shōji Hamada and Sōetsu Yanagi, otherwise known as The Leach Tradition, or Mingei, which would later inform the British Studio Pottery movement.
Matthew’s teaching, in contrast to his making looks to how we can use modern technologies within the making process to achieve more successful outcomes, better equipping current design graduates for their career’s within the creative industries. He has taught ceramics in many establishments over the years beginning in secondary, both state and independent, further education and higher education. He has guest lectured at universities and ceramic organisations across Europe. Matthew is also passionate about delivering ceramics outside of formal education and regularly delivers introduction workshops for pottery beginners with Gray’s School of Art Engage program.
Matthew is a co-founder of Ceramic Studios Scotland, a company which aims to provide open access making space for communities of makers to access workshop facilities.
Matthew also sits on the board of trustees for the Scottish Sculpture Workshop which offers artist residencies and locally focussed programmes to rethink and push material knowledge and process through sculpture.
Research Interests
• Making
• Materials
• Ceramics
• CAD
• Design
• Architecture
• Enviroment
• Construction
• Industry
• Waste
• Energy
• Aesthetics
• Process
• Technologies
Teaching and Learning
Subject specialist lecturer for Ceramics across all years
Coordinator for Stage 3 Product Ceramics Jewellery
MA supervision
