Category Archives: Crafts

Robin Welch (1936-2019)

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Oliver Kent

Student Holly John reviews the work of potter/painter Robin Welch in our collection. Holly is a third year on the BA (Hons) History course at UWE Robin Welch (1936 – 2019) Robin Welch is, was, and remains, a highly respected … Continue reading →

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When is a Teapot not a Teapot?

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Oliver Kent

UWE History student Holly John reviews the work of potter Oliver Kent. These exuberant teapots are a playful twist on an archetypal ceramic object. When I visited the Ken Stradling Collection, I was drawn to them because of their irregularity … Continue reading →

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Stradling Collection Automata on Antiques Roadshow!

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Oliver Kent

We were delighted to have two automata from our collection featured on BBC Antiques Roadshow on February 14 from Bodnant Gardens in North Wales (Series 43, Bodnant Garden 1 on iPlayer until January 2022). Expert Chris Yeo (until recently our … Continue reading →

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Julia Donnelly spills the glass beads! Everything you need to know about lampworking

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Oliver Kent

Glass jewellery maker Julia Donnelly writes about the making of her delightful beads. Lampwork is an ancient skill and a process ideally suited to small workshop practice. Her work is featured in the Ken Stradling Collection‘s exhibition ‘Making Joy – … Continue reading →

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Don’t miss ‘Making Joy: Fire and Ice’ – one more month to visit

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Oliver Kent

Celebrating Bristol’s long history of making beautiful glass we are shining a spotlight on this exciting world of ‘fire and ice’.  The Ken Stradling Collection at 48 Park Row, Bristol are using their windows as the exhibition space. In this … Continue reading →

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Getting Hooked on Glassblowing

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Oliver Kent

Our current window show celebrates the potential of glass to brighten our lives. Not everyone knows our KSC Manager Julia Donnelly is also a glass-artist. Nowadays she makes glass jewellery – here she describes her journey into glass and the … Continue reading →

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Making Joy – Fire and Ice

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Oliver Kent

Making Joy – Fire and Ice is our latest Covid-19 safe, street viewable, show at the Stradling Collection in Park Row, Bristol. It is on from 17 December 2020 – 28 February 2021 and is a joyous, bright exhibition for … Continue reading →

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Form and Function: Geoffrey Whiting’s Teapots

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Oliver Kent

Geoffrey Whiting’s teapots are the forms for which he remains best known, having achieved a design that is at once highly functional, but also good to look at as a piece of working sculpture. It is one that combines all … Continue reading →

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Geoffrey Whiting: a potter and a painter

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Oliver Kent

Geoffrey Whiting had an important parallel activity as a watercolour painter, but this is a lesser known area of his art. His great knowledge of the natural world underpinned all his creativity. It was there in the coloration of his pots, … Continue reading →

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Geoffrey Whiting’s Candlesticks for Canterbury Cathedral

Posted on November 14, 2020 by Oliver Kent

You can find candlesticks made by Geoffrey Whiting in Canterbury Cathedral It is always gratifying, but still all too rare when potters get major commissions. In 1982 Geoffrey Whiting was commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral to … Continue reading →

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