About the Artist

About the Artist?
My name is Martin and I am an artist based in Bristol in the UK.

I create multimedia art, from handmade contemporary abstract & surreal ceramic Sculpture and Painting as well as Artful Living Accessories like tableware. I am a creator on a journey of exploration and curiosity.

Why do I create art?
Have you ever felt there is more to this reality?

Through art, I can breathe in the beauty of exploration and self-discovery. Art provides freedom to explore my human potential and my desire to keep learning about myself and the world around me.

The ancient monument Stonehenge, located not too far away from my studio, serves as a constant source of inspiration. The towering stones beckon me to reflect on the mysteries of, belief, spirituality, time, space, the nature of reality, society and the human experience. I also experienced family members passing. It was this as well as Stonehenge that shifted my perspective on life. It’s powerful when art becomes a way of processing existence, mortality, and the vastness of the unknown. It made me realise life is a mystery, however there is a beauty within mystery.

What is my Art?
I channel these ideas into my art. The results are unique, quirky, colourful, vibrant with a hint of depth, engineered with attention to detail, a study of the effects of form, colour and light. It is Abstract and Surreal, reflecting the world we inhabit and partly escaping it.

When it comes to materials I don’t like to limit myself. For my sculptures I use a verity of clays, vibrant colours and glossy glazes. My paintings uncover an amalgamation newspaper, colourful oozing acrylic paints, reflective varnished surfaces and unconventional household paints.

My Mission?
My mission is to create art to transport you to a place of curiosity and imagination. I would like it to enhance, add value and uniqueness to any space or home.

About the Journey

Creating art for me is a journey of discovery of new ideas, places and art creations.

I am grateful to have Artworks shown in various solo art exhibitions including: Small is Beautiful, Yingge Ceramics Museum, New Taipei City, Taiwan, 2024.

Group exhibitions includes: Navigation Symposium exhibition, Ventspils Museum in the Castle of the Livonion Order, Latvia, 2025. XIII Biennial International De Ceramica Del Vendrell, Spain, 2024.

I have also participated in artist residency’s including: Serde, Aizpute, Latvia, 2025 (invited guest). Faenza Art Ceramic Centre, Italy, 2022. Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Japan, 2018.

I am also grateful to have been invited to artist symposiums including: Navigation, Ventspils, Latvia, 2025. Panevezys International Ceramic Symposium, Panevezys Civic Art Gallery, Lithuania, 2023. International Ceramics Studio, Kecskemét, Hungary, 2019.

My artworks are in public collections around the world including: Ventspils Museum, Castle of the Livonion Order, Latvia. Panevezys Civic Art Gallery, Lithuania. Faenza Art Ceramic Center, Italy. New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan.

Artworks are also in private collections around the world.

In 2014 I was awarded Bristol First Collective,161st Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol. UK

My Artworks have been featured in press including: BBC Radio Bristol interview with Steve Yabsley: My career in Ceramics,13th July 2025. Ceramics Ireland Magazine, Issue 42 2018 p48, 49, 2019.

I am thankful for the opportunities pressuring art has given me.
Every day is learning and exploring.

From the Studio

cv

(Recent)

Interviews
2025
BBC Radio Bristol with Steve Yabsley: My career in Ceramics.

Residencies/Symposiums
2025
Ceramics Symposium Navigation. Ventspils, Latvia (Invited guest)

Solo Exhibitions
2024
Small is Beautiful. Yingge Ceramics Museum. Yingge, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Group Exhibitions
2024
XIII Biennial Internacional De Ceramica Del Vendrell. Spain

View Full CV Here