THE Ceramicus exhibition which ran for two weeks finishing over the bank holiday weekend was the first public event to be held in the newly opened GALLERY@The Farnham Pottery following a multi-year restoration programme.

The Mayor of Farnham John Ward and his wife, Gillian, made an appearance during the exhibition, and it gave the perfect opportunity to choose a gift for Farnham’s Andernach twin town visitors.

The gifts were presented at a reception at Farnham Castle and the Burgermeister and representatives of the town’s ‘Partnerstadt’ (sister city) were very appreciative and impressed by the standard of the workmanship.

Mr Ward, said: “I wanted to find attractive and locally made gifts and this exhibition came just at the right time.

“We were very impressed with the variety and high standard of the work on show and had a difficult decision to make. In the end we chose an ornamental plate in red and gold by Mike Bush for the town of Andernach and a decorative vase with leaf design by Shirley Shiner for the Burgermeister.”

Ceramicus is a group of 11 highly skilled potters formed in 2010 and based in the Surrey and Hampshire area. The group covers a wide variety of making techniques including throwing, hand-building and sculpting, using various types of clay and decorative processes.

Subsequent firing methods range from the ancient art of wood burning kilns, oriental ‘raku’ and smoke firings to the use of modern gas and electric kilns.

The artists each have their individual way of working which is expressed creatively in unique pieces of work. Members of Ceramicus have had a long association with the Farnham Pottery, working and teaching in classes and workshops run by West Street Potters on the site.

They have collectively contributed to the development of this vibrant organisation with more than 130 active members, which has been instrumental in reviving the historical pottery uses of the buildings.

The Ceramicus exhibits were seen in a dramatic double height space in the heart of the building. This space originally housing one of several brick bottle kilns and which now makes a superb gallery for arts events.