Seymour and Wheeler both have their retrospective arts practices and careers but have been pleasantly surprised to find this happy porcelain medium and collaboration (Golden Ink) resonates with and appeals across a wider audience that they would not otherwise be able to reach. 

First joining forces for an exhibition, Hidden Facets, at Sydney’s Gaffa Gallery, Seymour and Wheeler felt their way through the process. The collaborations began with one of us giving the other a piece of unfinished work, or part of a piece to finish or change. Over a series of shared experiences, their work found a distinct expression that combined both their strengths and influences.

Wheeler works her three- dimensional magic in an organic and spontaneous fashion, fascinated by the correlation between object and memory, and Gaston Bachelard’s Poetics of Space, among other things. Seymour has a more planned manner and decorative focus, inspired by portraiture and adornment within Western society, a theme which occurs in many Golden Ink pieces.

Now, their roles, as well as their crafts, are finely honed. Wheeler fashions a porcelain piece, then Seymour illustrates it before it’s fired, and Wheeler finishes the jewellery components.

The duo have embarked on this journey and are committed to creating finely- detailed, one-off pieces. The hope is that handmade and locally produced work becomes more widely valued, appreciated and sought after... and more people drawn to craft that has longevity of style, design and materials.