Sasha Compton Ceramics for The Fife Arms
Sasha Compton Ceramics is the latest artist to join the curated selection of unique objects at The Fife Arms Shop.
Sasha Compton has created a collection of exclusive ceramic artworks inspired by the rugged romance and beauty of Braemar and Deeside. Each design is entirely handmade, with intentional irregularities and subtle imperfections that celebrate the originality of the craft. Read on to discover Sasha's inspiration for the designs, in her own words.
What was the inspiration for the designs?
I call these ‘love platters to nature’ (a ceramic take on love letters), an appreciation of wildlife and Celtic heritage with a modern and playful perspective. Using one of the oldest sustainable materials derived from nature itself, clay, I wanted to hand-build a body of earthenware platters that are a love letter to craftsmanship and the importance of nature, in particular, special places like Braemar. Time spent outdoors in wildlife is so precious. I hope these artworks will encourage others to follow footsteps and get out into nature.
I wanted to portray a sense of joy and calm, emotions I feel when walking in the Scottish Highlands. I feel my decorative, freehand, and whimsical style reflects these emotions of escapism and tranquillity when exploring the colourful grounds of Braemar. The artworks have been built by hand, decorated and fired by myself in my little studio. I wanted these works to feel handmade; the irregularity and imperfections of the artworks have been designed on purpose to celebrate the love and originality of each artwork.
Are there any local landmarks, landscapes, or stories that influenced your designs?
There are so many beautiful aspects in the local grounds that it was hard to choose what to include as focal points for these artworks. Various elements taken from Braemar can be spotted in the artworks; the bridge of Dee, The Cairnwell Pass, Glenshee grouse, Braemar Castle, Cairngorm butterflies, highland bothies, River Dee Sea Trouts, thistles, Red Squirrels, woodland bracken and purple heather moors, to name a few local landmarks and influences that captured my eye in the creative process.
Although I am not from Braemar, my great uncle Captain Alwyne Farquharson lived there (I believe the ‘Nature and Poetry Room’ at The Fife Arms was partially inspired by Alwyne’s first wife, Frances, which is a lovely coincidence). I have many fond memories over the years, both in childhood to adulthood, of visiting on our way up to the Isle of Mull where I went to school. Being inland, the Braemar landscape seemed more rolling in comparison and less nautical than the island life of the Hebrides. As a child, I remember the strong earthy colours of Braemar, the colder climate and the rustic bothies. Braemar Castle reminded me of a fairytale, and the whole place seemed like it could be another time. It was always a treat to pass through the rugged hills and walk in the mossy, heather-soaked woodlands of Braemar and Invercauld. I loved going to the gathering and the games, and seeing the Scottish dress and traditions.
How did Braemar inspire your creativity, compared to other places you’ve worked / other pieces?
A lot of my work to date has been inspired by my experiences at my childhood homes in North Yorkshire and the Isle of Mull. So this bespoke collection was the first time I have focused on a specific area close to my heart that I wouldn’t describe as ‘home’ (family connections aside). Therefore it has been exciting, poetic, and cathartic to think back on past memories and look at the landscape from an artistic point of view. The swooping shape of the hills, the windy roads and rocky streams, it's all a different subject matter for me. My other Scottish-inspired works have been very specific to the Isle of Mull, so to be painting the River Dee and the Cairngorms is a wonderful change. It has been an explorative, creative journey, with less nautical influences and more woodlands and streams to embrace. It took a few goes to get some of the artworks right, but I am happy with the outcome, and I hope they bring others joy. What’s not to love about this totally inspiring mountainous area?
- Sasha Compton 