Island born Carol Jaye studied ceramics at Farnham School of Art setting up her own studio in Teddington, Middlesex in l977. She returned in 1986 as resident potter at Quay Arts Centre working in earthenware producing slip-trailed and decorative domestic vessels.

The urge to tell a story inspired her to start on small figurative tableaux. Many of these are based on myth, legend and an interest in medieval iconography. More recently Jaye has returned to the local clay as her medium, harvesting it from the rich geological strata that form much of the island’s landmass. While this source is varied in firing performance it allows for larger and bolder work to take place.

She says, “If I do too much planning the work will be finished before I get to the clay. I need to lose myself in the making and let that ‘something else’ take over. That’s when things really begin to work.