The Leach Pottery’s third Leach-Seasalt apprentice, Annabelle Smith, is preparing to host the first solo show of her career next month.
Marking the end of her three-year apprenticeship in the pottery’s centenary year, the exhibition, titled, ‘Annabelle Smith: An Apprenticeship’, will run for six weeks in the Leach Pottery’s Shop Gallery in St Ives from November 6 to December 18, with all works for sale.
The apprenticeship is funded by Cornish brand, Seasalt. In 2013, Seasalt’s founder, Neil Chadwick, came up with the idea of the Seasalt Bursary to support a new trainee at the Leach Pottery and in 2014 the search for the first Leach-Seasalt Apprentice began. Annabelle Smith is the third potter to complete the programme and the first female.
She said: “This Studio environment has totally changed my life. I feel myself transforming into a competent, confident artist within my worktime and my own practice and it’s all thanks to the Leach Studio team.”
Sonya Corrigan, director of brand at Seasalt, added: “Seasalt and The Leach Pottery have a long-standing relationship, and seeing Annabelle, the third Seasalt Leach Apprentice, graduate is testament to the work the Pottery puts in to progress its students and ensure Cornwall continues to foster a thriving arts scene.”
