This ongoing collection explores, honours and challenges the idea of femininity. A personal journey as I now enter my forties, this body of work looks into the changes I have experienced and the shifts in the way society views and expresses womanhood. I have considered biological themes such as the cyclical transformation of our menstrual cycle, aging and fertility. While also focussing on the emotional and lifestyle changes we navigate as our lives progress.

The series was inspired by my experience attempting to conceive and the idea of a changing sense of self on this journey. Several pieces in the collection explore the social and biological pressure that’s put upon women to have children. We are constantly told that our fertility declines after 35 and that time is running out. Myself and many women have questions such as whether we want children, whether we can have children, when’s the right time, how is it possible to do this without a partner, can we afford a child, how will we continue to create our art etc. There’s so much to consider when thinking about this life changing concept.

Golden eggs/golden embryos are a recurring visual theme in these works and the hope that is pinned on them. All pieces are made from white stoneware and are a mixture of glazed, unglazed and 24 karat gold lustre parts held with copper wire with a gold lacquer coating.

I’m aware that this is a difficult subject for many. I hope to visually explore my personal experience with sensitivity, honesty and to create works that resonate with people and open up a discussion.

Photograph above by Liz Seabrook