Matilda Parker
In 2011, Matilda traded a busy career producing and directing wildlife documentaries for a more simple life in the South of France.
Her ‘Year in Provence’ sabbatical turned to 13 years and Matilda now works as a multi-disciplinary artist, creating ceramics, painting, print-making and foraging for plants for her naturally dyed and cyanotype textiles and prints.
Matilda's ceramic pieces are hand-built, one-of-a-kind originals. She mainly works in stoneware or porcelain.
Whether they are decorative or functional, what they all have in common is the many hours of positive energy she puts into each piece.
The Japanese tradition of Wabi-Sabi, finding beauty in imperfection is something that resonates strongly with her.
Often her pieces are not perfectly symmetrical. She embraces their small imperfections, rather than letting them restrain her.
Matilda has always had a close affinity with the natural world. Our planet and its creatures and plants inspire and inform her work.
She forages for the plants and flowers used in her cyanotypes in the woodlands around her home in the countryside of Provence
A neurodivergent thinker, Matilda uses her creativity as a tool for finding peace and flow. She runs creative workshops from her home-studio in the grounds of an ancient bastide in the countryside of Aix en Provence.
She believes strongly that we all have an inner artist and holds a safe space of trust in which to awaken the creativity within us.
Ceramics
"I love the unpredictability of working with Raku, an ancient Japanese technique. In a world where we are used to controlling so much, letting Nature and the elements have the final creative decision is both magical and liberating."
Raku sushi platter
"I favour small series or little figurative 'families' over producing large volumes of work, allowing me to keep my creativity flowing."
Raku guinea fowl family
Stoneware 'ventricle vessel'
Glaze testing for 'ventricle vessels'
Raku 'sea-foam' bowl
Photo credit and styling: Adi Buckman
Photo credit and ikebana: Adi Buckman
Unglazed porcelain vessel
Cyanotypes
Cyanotype or sun printing is a form of primitive photography, pioneered by botanist Anna Atkins, who in the 1840s published several of the earliest books to feature photography.
Matilda harnesses the sunlight with the cyanotype chemicals to capture natural items found on her walks. These are then transformed into beautiful and useful functional items.
This fabric design features British ferns and French wildflowers and herbs.
'Coquelicots' original cyanotype on Japanese washi paper
Cyanotype botanical linen napkins
One of a kind 'wildflower' cyanotype Converse
Cyanotype fern printed lavender sachets
Cyanotype fern lavender sachet - filled with organic Lavande de Provence
Twig, my studio dog's favourite sleep spot!
Fern cyanotype cushion, original print on vintage French linen
'Wild poppies' cyanotype original print linen top
porcelain jewellery
"Delicate, elegant and surprisingly durable, I love working with porcelain and its luxurious and translucent quality"
Porcelain and gold-plated charm necklaces
Tiny handformed porcelain studs
Minimalist porcelain 'sautoir'
Porcelain, shell and Heishi bead 'beach please' necklaces
Porcelain hoop earrings
Natural dyeing
"It is just magical to me that inside the plants around us, nature hides such incredible, subtle colours. I love to upcycle flea market finds and give them a new life, often using kitchen waste. It is always a wonderful surprise to see what the dye-bath will reveal"
Avocado and pomegranate-dyed shibori antique napkin set,
on vintage linen tablecloth, dyed with madder root
Bundle dyeing with foraged flowers and plants
Acorn and oak gall shibori dyed raw silk scarf
Creative Workshops
"My workshops offer a relaxed, unhurried, safe space to unlock your creativity."
Connect with fellow creatives or choose a one-to-one class
My sunny workshop space 10 minutes from Aix-en-Provence is waiting for you!
Book a Workshop
For one-to-one workshops, or if you have a small group of up to 4 please contact me for availability and prices.
Group workshops below for maximum of 6 people
Create your own original cyantype botanical print
Atelier Plüme, Aix-en-ProvenceDiscover this magical photographic process that harnesses the power of the sun to create a beautiful A4 original botanical print to take home and frame. Workshop approx 2 hours 50 euros including artists' grade materials and paper
Select date and timeEvent time zone:Europe/Paris GMT+02:00
Create a bespoke porcelain necklace
Atelier Plüme, Aix-en-ProvenceYou will be guided to design and create a beautiful and unique piece of jewellery from a selection of handmade porcelain charms and gold/silver plated jewellery supplies. Suitable for everyone, no matter what your creative experience. Workshop approx 2 hours 60 euros including all materialsSelect date and timeEvent time zone:Europe/Paris GMT+02:00
Mindful Modern Watercolour class
Atelier Plüme, CassisFind your flow and explore watercolour and mark-making techniques to create a beautiful work of art to take home and frame. This workshop is suitable for both seasoned artists and absolute beginners. A beautiful way to relax and reveal your inner creativity. Workshop is 2 hours 50 euros including artists' grade materialsSelect date and timeEvent time zone:Europe/Paris GMT+02:00
Create your own stoneware bud vase or bowl
Atelier Plüme, Aix-en-ProvenceUsing the pinch pot technique, this workshop is suitable for everyone, even if you have no experience with clay. You will be guided to create your own unique stoneware bud vase which will then be glazed and fired, ready for you to collect 2 weeks later. Workshop approx 2 hours 75 euros including glazing and firingSelect date and timeEvent time zone:Europe/Paris GMT+02:00News and Events
Ventes privées, markets and open studios
Exhibitions
Contact me
My home-studio and workshop space overlook Bestouan Beach in Cassis, Provence
I welcome visitors, by appointment.
tel +33 6 28 77 71 49
email tillyparker@yahoo.com
Instagram @atelier_matilda_parker
Facebook Matilda Parker Ceramics
