STORIES OF MATTER: THE SECRET LIVES OF ALICE BILLING HOUSE

We are excited to announce the forthcoming artist-in-residency of Beverley Sommerville, to coincide with London Craft Week (15 - 17 May 2025)

Beverley Sommerville is a studio potter and ceramic artist. One aspect of her practice engages with ideas of material and place. Gathering materials from the cultures and places that inspire her and adding these into the clay that she works with. This body of work is known as matter. Beverley will apply this to Alice Billing House, in particular the North Block which is in disrepair and due to be renovated at the start of 2026.

In this Artist-in-Residency-she will create a body of ceramic work that celebrates the connections between Alice Billing House, the building, its heritage, histories and stories whilst engaging with ideas of place as it experiences times of change and development. 

Matter and materials have been specially gathered from the derelict North Block building. Ashes from fireplaces, brick fragments and fallen roof tiles, building debris and detritus. 

After a period of processing and testing, these materials are to be added into the porcelain, creating unique clay bodies. These would then be used in several ceramic projects running the length of the building’s renovation. The body of work produced will go on display in the North Block of Alice Billing House when it opens in later 2026

On the 17th May, Beverley will be running an exciting tile-making workshop where participants will decorate tiles that will go onto form a decorative feature in the North Block’s Pavilion area.  The tiles themselves will be made using some of the gathered materials and the unique clay’s that Beverley has blended from North Block matter.

Read more about the workshop and to book, visit Tile Making Workshops