Hanne Rysgaard was born in Denmark in 1968, and I has lived in the U.K. for the past 11 years.

She introduces herself:

In 1998 I graduated with a BA (Hons) in Ceramics & 3D Design, from The University of the West of England-Bristol. In 2001, I graduated with an MA in "Ceramics and Digital Archiving", from The University of the West of England-Bristol. Since then I have successfully embarked on a career as a full time ceramic designer-maker. I supply a number of retail outlets in Bristol, London, as well as Paris and Tokyo, Hamburg ?and have taken part in a variety of exhibitions & trade fairs. In December 2002, together with five like-minded ceramicists, I opened "blaze" a Ceramic Workshop & Gallery in the centre of Bristol.

My work is an ongoing investigation into form and functionality and I am committed to keeping it alive, improving and changing aspects of the designs and surface decorations, as I feel necessary. My functional hand thrown porcelain range consists of: Cups - saucers - jugs - bowls - lunch plates - dinner plates - cake stands - teapots - butter dishes - toast racks - eggcups - oil bottles and napkin rings. The range focuses on "fun & function" and very much encompasses my personal approach to life; "You have to smile". There is a strong functional basis to my work - I believe that a functional artifact should be made to do its job well. But it doesn't have to be boring. All the pieces are hand thrown on the wheel, a bit quirky with wobbles and indents- industrial flower and polkadot transfers-gold lustre and lace textures are used in various combinations as surface decoration to further enhance the idiosyncratic feel with a "contemporary nostalgic" twist.

Photos copyright Schnuppe von Gwinner/ craft2eu