The artwork I am submitting is a circular ceramic mosaic depicting a collection of our native songbirds in a natural setting. I am most inspired by the nature and wild hedgerows in particular.  I have tried to recreate and respond to the textures and growth of ferns, brambles and ivy in the bottom half of the mosaic, leading up into the branches of a tree. I have made the ceramic leaves by rolling a variety of leaves onto the clay, capturing their individual characteristics.  I have made moulds from actual berries and plants. The birds I have individually hand carved when the clay is in the leatherhard stage.  These are then bisque fired and painted with underglaze and glazes to look as realistic as possible.  When I have made a wide collection of pieces I begin to arrange the design on a wooden base, aiming for a balanced and natural appearing composition.  Once the adhesive is dry I grout in black.  'Habitat' was begun in the spring this year and completed in August.  My bird roundels are all different and reflect the season in which they were made. 

Michelle is a full time, professional mosaic maker based in Teignmouth,  Devon.  She has previously been a member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen (now Make Southwest) for over ten years, but now mainly exhibits in TAAG gallery and sells to private collectors.  Michelle focused on painting and printmaking early on in her art career. She gained a Further Education teaching qualification at Exeter College, where she taught printmaking part -time on the Access to Art & Design course.  She has taught herself all the traditional mosaic techniques over the last twenty years and now specialises in ceramic mosaic. Michelle makes all of the elements in her compositions in glazed earthenware, or stoneware if an outdoor piece is required. She has also completed numerous public art projects,  winning the RHS Southwest Art in the Landscape trophy in 2022 for a mosaiced seat in the Botanical Gardens,  Shaldon. Michelle regularly teaches mosaic and glass fusing in TAAG and Voyage gallery,  where she has her workshop.