Myra McDonnell - Ceramics Designer, Teacher and Lecturer

Myra's career

Myra's career began with a BA Honours degree in Industrial Ceramics from Stoke-on-Trent followed by a Master of Arts degree in Ceramics from the Royal College of Art. In a career spanning 40 years she has worked for many prestigious clients, amongst which are Carlton Ware, Raymond Blanc, Soho House, and Watts Gallery. She recently worked for British furniture and lighting company Porta Romana. Myra has travelled and worked in China, Finland and India, gaining a wealth of knowledge and practical experience in specialised techniques. Myra was introduced to tin glaze techniques by Alan Caiger Smith at Aldermaston where she was based for 20 years.

Myra’s technical knowledge of forming techniques and glazes has been described as encyclopaedic. She has lectured at Brighton College of Art and UCA Farnham in Surrey. She has also taught and consulted at Grayshott Pottery, West Street Potters and Watts Gallery. Myra works as a studio potter specialising in highly decorative pottery. Her work has been exhibited worldwide. 

Exhibitions and Awards

Myra has exhibited with the Royal Society of Arts at the Barbican, at Forma in Stockholm, Formex in Finland and at Aldermaston Pottery. Through the British Council she received a Charles Wallace Scholarship award from INTACH (India). Myra has been a resident artist and mounted exhibitions in Aland, Finland and has won travel awards from the Royal College of Art.

Achievements

Myra has written ‘World Crafts for Children’ Watts Publications; 150 Articles for ‘Art of Painting and Drawing’ as a House journalist for Eaglemoss publications, and ‘Table decorating’ for Colour Library Books. 

Commissions

Myra has undertaken numerous commissions from individual plates to large corporate requirements.

Two noteworthy examples are distress glazing the tiles for the "East Enders" Walford Tube station and Lady Di’s wedding shoe in china “which the American’s are always asking about!"

        "Large Perch" dish by Myra McDonnell

This is an occasional blog for Surrey Guild of Craftsmen submitted by Camilla Whybrow, Jewellery maker and Surrey Guild of Craftsmen member.