Paul Barron

'His education inspired a belief in the significance of the chemistry and physics of clays and glazes.'

Paul Barron (b. 1917) grew up in Brighton. He attended Brighton College of Art and was taught by Norah Braden, a graduate of the RCA Ceramics Department and a talented student of Bernard Leach's. Barron himself went on to study at the RCA where Helen Pincombe was one of his teachers.  Afterwards he worked for a time at Wrecclesham Pottery, a workshop making functional wares using traditional techniques.  He also studied ash glazes with Katherine Pleydell Bouverie.  This education inspired a belief in the significance of the chemistry and physics of clays and glazes.  Barron became a strong ally of Hammond's in building a rigorous technical course at the West Surrey College of Art and Design.  He was a keen gardener and local historian (interests he shared with Hammond), and a talented amateur actor.  In his own practice Barron made mainly individual items in stoneware; some of his tableware was exhibited in Prague.  He shared a studio with Henry Hammond in Bentley from 1954.

References

-Blackie, S. 1984, 'Paul Barron 1917-83', Crafts, Vol.67, Mar/Apr, p.55

-Casson, M. 1967, Pottery in Britain today, Alec Tiranti, London

-Hammond, H. 1984, 'Obituary -Paul Barron 1917-1983', Ceramic Review, Vol.85, Jan/Feb, p.18

-Rose, M. 1955, The artist-potter in England, London