Annie Turner: Ebb and flow

Vicky Smith visits artist Annie Turner south London sculpture studio

Above: Artist Annie Turner creates her pieces from a studio in Camberwell

South London has a much-deserved reputation as a hive of artistic activity. Of course there’s Camberwell College of Art, South London Gallery, Dulwich Picture Gallery… The list goes on, but aside from these big names, there are some lesser-known spots just as crammed with talent.

One such place, The Yard at Vanguard Court SE5, has been the base for sculptor Annie Turner since she came to London 10 years ago, whilst studying ceramics at the Royal Academy and running the pottery at the Ladywell Daycare Centre. Annie was offered a housing association flat in nearby Lewisham, and having somewhere to work on her sculpture nearby was essential. “The Yard was already established as an arty place when I arrived,” says Annie, “and as space in London is at a premium, it is not surprising that environments such as this develop and continue.”

Annie shares her studio with three other sculptors, but The Yard is home to a variety of creative types. Fashion designers, painters and set designers all work there, which unsurprisingly means there is a real sense of camaraderie. It is here that Annie creates all her sculptures, which are inspired by the River Deben in Suffolk near to where she grew up.

Her pieces represent the changing faces of the river, from cage-like sluices and sinkers, to the ladders and boats revealed in the mud by years of erosion, to feathers that wash up on shore. “My work is not necessarily a visual interpretation of the river, but very much more about how I feel about it,” says Annie, who uses stoneware clay as her medium, fired so that the finish represents river’s landscape. Small dimples form in the clay, and different slips and oxides are used so that when pieces are fired, more colour is released from the material and the smooth white surfaces become pitted with blues, greys and browns.

Although she is emotionally attached to her roots in Suffolk, it is essential, she says, to be based elsewhere, as being divorced from her muse allows a much more objective approach to her work. “Because I am here, I see things more acutely. As well as this, being in London means I am very much part of the arts scene, so I manage to stay in the loop.”

Living in Lewisham, Annie is in good company. “So many artists live in the area, and there really is a great sense of community here,“ she says. “I love Walworth Road flower market, and the Peckham farmers market on a Saturday morning is great, not just for shopping but meeting people too, as you see the same faces there every week.” Getting involved in events such as Camberwell Arts Week is another great way to become involved in local life, she says. “I’ve been over to Lucas Gardens to listen to the children playing steel pans and it’s an incredibly uplifting experience.“ Similarly, when Annie opens the studio to members of the pubic, visitors are always enthusiastic. “We get lots of families visiting who love the chance to have a look around. Without open studios they would probably never have come in at all.”

Annie’s sculptures are featured in the Hue, Line & Form exhibition, running until 3 November at the Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery, 2 Percy Street W1; 020 7436 2344; www.caa.org.uk