Sarah Noel

About Sarah Noel

Sarah Noel works alongside her sister Anna, also a ceramicist, in their tiny shared studio. She studied ceramics at Bristol Polytechnic gaining a BA Degree in 1983 before setting up the present studio with her sister.
Sarah prefers to work mostly in two dimensions. Although most of her pieces have a back and a front, they are largely pictorial in character combining references to the old Staffordshire ‘flat-backs’ with elements as diverse as Islamic art and Indian shadow puppets. “I also find the same beguiling qualities in European and American Folk Art.  
“I have two rather different image groups. One has images which spring from my enjoyment of all things theatrical. Theatre architecture, stage sets and costume, posing and gesturing figures, fancy dress, historical costume, especially from the 1930’s and designs by Erte and the razzmatazz of circuses - fairgrounds also fascinate me. I also enjoy the solemn simplicity of mediaeval drawings, religious icons and Indian miniatures with their economy of line, powerful features and sensitive decoration. Out of these influences come my ladies and gentlemen in extravagant costumes playing instruments or holding birds, and mermaids and mermen.
“The other group of images is influenced by my enjoyment of old toys, especially tin toys. Living by the sea gives me the opportunity to draw the boats and ships in nearby marina and docks. These sources result in my ceramic images of fishing boats and ships, some with sailors and seagulls, aeroplanes with be-goggled pilots, hot-air balloons with passengers, and light-houses and locomotives.”
Sarah’s double-sided ceramic pieces are made by drawing on to rolled out slabs of clay with a knife and cutting out two identically shaped silhouettes. After decoration, the edges of the slabs are stuck together with slip, leaving a splayed gap for the base. The earthenware pieces are then biscuit and raku or smoke fired. 

Born in Mumbles, South Wales.
Trained at Bristol Polytechnic, gaining a 2:1 B.A. Hons. Degree Ceramics.
Her ceramics are shown in various galleries in Wales and England. Public Collections.
Aberystwyth University College Arts Centre, Ceramic Collection.
The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.
Newport Museum and Art Gallery, Gwent.
Public Commissions
Ceramic panel for Gowerton Comprehensive School, Music Department.
Ceramic panel for foyer of S4C Headquarters in Cardiff.
Numerous private commissions in Wales, England, France, Australia and America.