In the ‘Paisley Date Palms’ the overall form of the sculptures is the main signifier of the plant growth and the indented patterning carries complementary references to natural fecundity and unlimited regeneration. To achieve the densely- patterned ‘paisley-like’ surface, fragments of contemporary, heavily crocheted floral lace were pressed into the soft clay forms prior to kiln-firing. The difficulty of interpreting a flat, two dimensional shape into a fully-in-the-round three-dimensional form and integrating a complex pattern onto its surface is a fascinating and ongoing sculptural problem. Exploring the fractal-like Paisley motif has revealed potential for further research through the computer and new work involving multiple castings. Peter Bevan, May 2001
