Richard Launder trained West Surrey College of Art & Design in Farnham. Since 1985 he has been Associate Professor in the Ceramic Institute of the National College of Art, Craft and Design in Bergen, Norway. He is interested in the conceptual and sculptural aspects of familiar ceramic forms. His experimental approach to firing includes low-fired earthenware as well as the more typical high-fired stoneware to give very different colours and surface textures.
Although it would be possible to use these pieces, the artist has been more interested in the quality of the heavily grogged stoneware and the warm toasted orange achieved by the salt in the firing. The pieces look almost primitive and make an oblique reference to the Japanese tradition of tea bowls. Shells have been pressed into the damp clay to give a simple decoration.