Suzette completed a BA honours degree at Central St Martins in London, and her master’s degree at Staffordshire University in Stoke, both in Ceramic Design.
Here, Suzette had the opportunity to experiment with a variety of ceramics techniques, and found herself specialising in shape design, examining both the form and function of utilitarian vessels. The focus was very much on the aesthetic and functional techniques, rather than the surface areas, which, interestingly has now become more of a focus in her current work.
Following her education, Suzette transferred her ceramic skills over to a career in prosthetics, where she spent over ten years as a silicone artist sculpting realistic prosthetic limbs. Incredible attention detail was required, as well as strong dexterity skills. Suzette commonly used her problem-solving abilities to ensure the prosthesis were both functional and aesthetically accurate.
Suzette hugely enjoyed the rewarding nature of the prosthetics work, but as is often the case, life had other plans, and following a physical injury, Suzette was forced to slow down and reassess what was important in her life. She found herself gravitating back towards ceramics, where the freedom to explore her creativity supported her recovery and provided her with a safe space to rebuild heal. During this reflective time in her life, Suzette returned to a previous curiosity in abandoned buildings and decaying surfaces, she is interested in how they echo the human experience of both abandonment and the physical and emotional scars that we carry with us.
Suzette now teaches regular weekly pottery classes and makes her own work which she has exhibited at Art in Clay Hatfield, Art in Clay Farnham, and at Earth and Fire Ceramics Festival.
Suzette spends most of her life living on the south coast of England, in the Bournemouth area.