As a potter, teacher, mountain leader, and advocate for women in the arts, Sifting and Combing traces the life and work of Siw Thomas through her deep, exploratory relationship with earth and clay. Beginning with an exhibition at Plas Brondanw, the book is shaped by Thomas’s intuitive approach to form and surface, offering an intimate insight into her identity as a maker.
A folded translucent dust jacket overlays images of Thomas’s sculptures with text, adding tactility and inviting moments of quiet discovery. Inside, an earthy colour palette, drawn from the natural tones of her ceramics, extends the material narrative.
In collaboration with photographer Ed Park, we art directed new photographs in Thomas’s North London studio and home, a space that she built with her husband, architect Peter St John. These images contextualise her work within an environment that is shaped by the weaving together of two creative minds and diverse art forms. Bilingual throughout, English and Welsh sit side-by-side to honour the cultural and geographic roots – the landscape, language, and tradition – that so deeply informed Thomas’s practice.
Photography: Ed Park
