Inspired
people, places and things
…with Taryn de Vere
Orla Kinane of Nádúr Ceramics creates ceramic jewellery and art inspired by nature. She fell in love with clay at a pottery course she took with her dad in Ballymorris Pottery in 2017. She was hooked and completed three more evening courses in ceramics in Crawford College of Art and Design. During lockdown Orla took a leap, bought a kiln, named it Kitty, and began sharing her work on Instagram. Since 2020 she has sold her pieces, which are created in small slow batches between her desk in Cork and Kitty the kiln in Tipperary, on nadurceramics.com and most recently at the Galway Potters Market.
Describe yourself in three words:
Creative, caring, calm … most of the time!
What is something our readers might not know about you?
I have a masters in animal welfare and behaviour. When I’m not working with clay I work with pigs, researching ways to improve their welfare and make their lives better. They are the most beautiful animals!
What is your proudest accomplishment?
I’m really proud of myself for setting up my instagram account and sharing my work. I didn’t know if people would like what I did and I was nervous at first, but the support has been amazing. I’ve met so many like-minded people; generous kind creatives and makers who have offered lots of advice, and beautiful supportive customers and admirers of my work who have bought my pieces or sent me words of encouragement. I’m so glad I took that little leap.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
In my work, mother nature. I am inspired to capture some little detail of the beauty and imperfect perfection of a leaf or a landscape in every piece. For me, being in nature, in the forest or in the sea, makes me feel so alive and peaceful. Those are the kinds of feelings I want to reflect on while I create and to convey through my work. Everybody has a deep connection to nature and I hope my creations can bring people a little bit of that joy no matter where they are.
Tell us something you love about Galway:
The buzz! The people, music, food, art. The city is full of life, it’s an inspiring, energising place to be, being by the sea definitely adds to that.
You can check out Orla’s work on Instagram @nadurceramics and she will have a small collection available online soon. You can also sign up to her newsletter for updates.
