Reg Preston
Encyclopedia
Reg Preston studied sculpture at the Westminster School of Art
in London
, in 1938. At the beginning of WW2 he returned to Australia
and spent three months in 1944 potting at the Melbourne Technical College with John A. Barnard Knight and Klytie Pate
. Throughout 1945-1946 he worked at Cooper and Cooke's Pottery.
In 1947 he established a pottery studio at Warrandyte and worked full-time as a freelance potter. To make a living he produced a range of domestic wares like coffee mugs, as well as larger decorative pieces like bowls and vases. In 1958, Preston and his wife Phil Dunn set up the Potters’ Cottage at Warrandyte, Victoria, with Gus McLaren
, Charles Wilton and Artur Halpern.
Throughout this time he continued to work in earthenware. For some time he was also interested in working with the English slipware tradition and was also interested in using Aboriginal motifs. During the 1960s Preston and Dunn produced a line under the name “Ceres”, and in 1967 Preston began working in stoneware. Preston is perhaps best known for his work in stoneware, often large pieces with bold, abstract decorations, and his lidded shaped pieces with rich vitreous glazes over-poured or brushed with other metallic glazes. He worked well into the 1980s, producing often large pieces with rich glazes and bold abstract decoration.
Of his own work Reg Preston once said: "I quite simply make pots that please me. They are derived from a number of factors, the clay itself, the firing, other pots from other ages; these factors have over the years of work been gradually assimilated and become unconscious. The best ideas for me come from pots and from long bouts of continuous work. I find continuity of thought about the pots that I'm making day to day to be the time that is most fruitful. Occasionally when all the thought about the process, the technical knowledge merge and become one, then days later you might get from the kiln one or two pots that stand as it were 'on their own legs' detached and quite apart."(Reg Preston, 'Recent Ceramics, an exhibition from Australia', 1980).
Preston went on to become an acknowledged master and has pieces in collections such as the Powerhouse
and Qut museums.
Westminster School of Art
The Westminster School of Art was an art school in Westminster, London. It was located at 18 Tufton Street, Deans Yard, Westminster, and was part of the old Architectural Museum.H. M. Bateman described it in 1903 as...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in 1938. At the beginning of WW2 he returned to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and spent three months in 1944 potting at the Melbourne Technical College with John A. Barnard Knight and Klytie Pate
Klytie Pate
Klytie Pate was an Australian Studio Potter who emerged as an innovator in the use of unusual glazes and the extensive incising, piercing and ornamentation of earthenware pottery. She was one of a small group of Melbourne art potters which included Marguerite Mahood and Reg Preston who were...
. Throughout 1945-1946 he worked at Cooper and Cooke's Pottery.
In 1947 he established a pottery studio at Warrandyte and worked full-time as a freelance potter. To make a living he produced a range of domestic wares like coffee mugs, as well as larger decorative pieces like bowls and vases. In 1958, Preston and his wife Phil Dunn set up the Potters’ Cottage at Warrandyte, Victoria, with Gus McLaren
Gus McLaren
Gus McLaren was an Australian artist, animator and potter born in 1923.Active duty in the Australian army during World War 2 saw Gus serving in the pacific. Here he painted panels for a recreation tent for wounded Australian and allied soldiers- the work now resides at the Australian War Memorial...
, Charles Wilton and Artur Halpern.
Throughout this time he continued to work in earthenware. For some time he was also interested in working with the English slipware tradition and was also interested in using Aboriginal motifs. During the 1960s Preston and Dunn produced a line under the name “Ceres”, and in 1967 Preston began working in stoneware. Preston is perhaps best known for his work in stoneware, often large pieces with bold, abstract decorations, and his lidded shaped pieces with rich vitreous glazes over-poured or brushed with other metallic glazes. He worked well into the 1980s, producing often large pieces with rich glazes and bold abstract decoration.
Of his own work Reg Preston once said: "I quite simply make pots that please me. They are derived from a number of factors, the clay itself, the firing, other pots from other ages; these factors have over the years of work been gradually assimilated and become unconscious. The best ideas for me come from pots and from long bouts of continuous work. I find continuity of thought about the pots that I'm making day to day to be the time that is most fruitful. Occasionally when all the thought about the process, the technical knowledge merge and become one, then days later you might get from the kiln one or two pots that stand as it were 'on their own legs' detached and quite apart."(Reg Preston, 'Recent Ceramics, an exhibition from Australia', 1980).
Preston went on to become an acknowledged master and has pieces in collections such as the Powerhouse
Powerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse Museum is the major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney, the other being the historic Sydney Observatory...
and Qut museums.