Meet Varie Freyne, a retired teacher turned passionate potter, based in the charming, coastal town of North Shields. Retirement has unlocked a whole new world of creativity for Varie, whose love for pottery has been fuelled by the unique spirit of North Shields.
What started as a personal hobby when she lived and worked in London, has blossomed into a second career for Varie, helped and facilitated by a new found friend and fellow potter, Di Routledge of Oryoki Ceramics in North Shields. Each vessel that Varie creates is individually crafted using stoneware or white earthenware clay, no two pieces are the same.
Varie’s ceramics celebrate the natural beauty and maritime heritage of her surroundings and living in North Shields is a constant inspiration – the colours, the rugged coastline and the timeless allure of the harbour. The hills and countryside of Northumberland also inspire her love of surface decoration and texture of pattern on clay. Varie exhibits and sells her ceramic pieces in Galleries across the North East, these exhibitions connect her with other artists and also enrich the vibrant arts community in our region.
Retirement has given Varie time and opportunity to travel widely and to be inspired by ceramics in Central Asia, Japan and New Mexico. As she continues to explore and develop new techniques for creating ceramic pieces, she is grateful for the opportunity to pursue her passion in such a picturesque setting. Her hope is that those who encounter her ceramics, not only appreciate their aesthetic charm but also feel a connection to the tranquillity and history that define the North East – a place Varie now calls home and a muse that continues to inspire her creative journey.
