Background
Abigail was born in London in 1964, Abigail studied acting at the Drama Centre, London (1983–1987).
Abigail was born in London in 1964, Abigail studied acting at the Drama Centre, London (1983–1987).
Championed by prestigious New York gallerist Ralph Pucci, Abigail has had key solo shows in London, New York and New Zealand. Her work is in numerous private collections, including those of singer Annie Lennox and designer Donna Karan. A stage career gave way to art as Abigail developed a deep affinity for working with clay.
She set up her own studio in London’s Hoxton and worked as part of an artist collective at Standpoint Studios.
International exhibitions and recognition led to The Observer describing Abigail as "The lieutenant Girl Of Ceramics". In 2008 Abigail moved to Kent.
She currently works from an old ice-cream factory in Margate. Abigail"s large scale ceramic sculptures are painstakingly constructed by hand from stoneware clay.
Reminiscent of traditional African techniques, each sculpture is formed of single weighty coils.
The hand rolled coils are carefully kneaded into place and left to dry before the next is added. The prints of her fingers and palms often remain an integral pattern on the works. Each sculpture is unique and can take between three weeks and three months to make.
They are shaped, smoothed and scraped and then glazed.
The sculptures are then fired up to three times at 1280 degrees in Abigail’s purpose built kiln. Abigail cites her influences as fashion, architecture and the female form.
Gallerist Rebecca Willer has recognised how Abigail makes ‘contemporary reference to timeless classical forms’ and has complimented ‘her ability to coax sensuous and elegant shapes from clay.’
Solo Exhibitions
1996 Lamont Gallery, London
1997 Space, London
1998 Lamont Gallery, London
1998 Bowwow, London
1999 Apartmento, Auckland, New Zealand
2001 Standpoint Gallery, London
2002 Interiors Bis, London
2007 Willer, London
2009 Hazel Collins, London
2001 Ralph Pucci International, New York
2004 Ralph Pucci International, New York
2005 Ralph Pucci International, Miami
2009 Ralph Pucci International, New York
2012 Hazel Collins, London
2013 Willer, London
Group Exhibitions
1996 Whitechapel Open, Standpoint Gallery, London
1997 ‘Art 97’ London Contemporary Art Fair
1997 Hidden Art Of Hackney, Standpoint Gallery, London
1998 Olympia Fine Art Fair, London
1998 ‘Art98’ London Contemporary Art Fair, London
1999 Hidden Art Of Hackney, Standpoint Gallery, London
1999 ‘Art 99’ London Contemporary Art Fair, London.