Irena Sibrijns

Irena Sibrijns has been a potter for over thirty years. Inspired by an avid interest in 20th century English decorative arts tradition Irena creates exquisite, and entirely unique, ornamental and functional pieces with equal enthusiasm.

Using a wide variety of decorating techniques such as wax and latex resist, sliptrailing and sgraffito Irena creates unique and elaborate patterns and pictures on her thrown and hand built work, often featuring natural forms. Slips saturated with stains and oxides allow her to form a process similar to painting on canvas, where building up and layering each image allows the work to portray its very own individual look and character.

First trained in Wiltshire, Irena moved to work in the South of France before returning to the UK in 2001 to establish her workshop in Suffolk, where she still lives and works today. Often inspired by locations, including the Suffolk coast, Irena references Charleston House and Farleys House and Gallery as places that have had a great impact on her work.

“My work constantly changes and develops, which I hope gives each piece – whether functional or purely decorative – a personality and integrity of its own.” – Irena Sibrijns