Peter Beard is a ceramic artist whose professional practice began in 1973 and has expanded to include bronze and occasional works in stone. His vessels and sculptural objects pair relatively simple forms with complex surfaces, drawing on landscapes and ancient artefacts from different cultures. Drawing and sketching are part of a considered development process before he makes new pieces. For wax-resist works, he isolates areas during glaze application and builds combinations of glossy, matt and semi-matt surfaces through layered firing effects. Another method layers coloured clay and glaze, then grinds back the surface to reveal intricate patterns with a smooth, marble-like finish. His official statement notes that these ground pieces can take up to six months and that his work is represented in museum, public and private collections internationally.