"I use clay because it is an alchemist’s material: it can be smooth, rough, delicate, solid, fragile, white, colourful."
Abi Wills began her career as a historian – her art continues to be inspired by the material cultures of the past. She is interested in the feelings of connection, longing and loss evoked by ancient artefacts.
In her 'Playscapes' series, Wills worked with delicate porcelain to create her shapes. Each hole is hand-drilled by Wills, making it a delicate and time-consuming endeavour. The glass elements were added with the help of a small gas torch, adding another element of peril to her process; should the flame touch the porcelain, it would crack within moments.
Wills completed an Art Foundation course at City Lit in 2018, for which she received a Distinction. In 2019, she reached the finals of Handmade Britain's 'Identity' competition, after which her work was exhibited at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. In 2021 she was selected as a finalist at the British Ceramics Biennial.