Heather Niven

My work reflects my love of colour, dark corners and the rhythm of nature. 

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I am fascinated by the power and exquisiteness of the natural world and love to explore the connection with humanity and imagination.  My work includes an appreciation of the beauty around us, mixed with a dash of a slightly more surreal parallel imaginary world.  There's a range of media I love to work with, including soft pastels, oils, acrylics and mixed media collage. I tend to build mixed media work up in layers, creating a story through the strata, whereas with pastels I try to capture the essence of the moment and the freshness.

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After 30 years as a painter and 2D artist, I am now also exploring the 3D world of ceramic sculptures. My work uses natural materials and ancient processes to create uniquely shaped and patterned pieces. Most clay pieces are fired using Raku techniques creating crackled or iridescent effects or are pit fired to create smoky effects. Both techniques are exciting and unpredictable and require a degree of courage and risk taking. The effects are worth the risk and the whole process is a superb journey of discovery.