A Story of Pots + Pencils
Stephen Farnan Studio sits right in the heart of west Belfast, at St Comgall’s on Divis Street. Stephen’s creative journey has been a rich one: growing up in Armagh, studying Fine & Applied Art in Belfast, then diving into Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art, London. After traveling the world and experimenting with making, he returned home in 2002 to set up his studio at Priory Cottages in Benburb.
Stephen has made a name for himself not just with pottery, but also with delicate pencil sketches of familiar Irish scenes, life drawings, and paintings, and more recently, playful experiments with AI in his Belfast Delft collection. His work spans a range of materials, porcelain, clay, wood, aluminium, and canvas, showcasing a curiosity and skill that’s rare to find.
Porcelain: Capturing Memories
Stephen’s “Captured Memories” series is all about the beauty of individuality. Each piece starts with hand-rolled porcelain that’s cut, ripped, and stamped to create a raw, textured base. No two pieces are alike, every shape evolves naturally. A rich crackle glaze fired to 1220°C adds depth, while Stephen’s own sketches, applied as ceramic decals and re-fired at 850°C, give each piece a personality all its own. Every “Captured Memory” feels like it has a story to tell, timeless landscapes, captured forever in porcelain.
Red Earthenware: Simple & Honest
Some of Stephen’s most striking work comes from humble red earthenware. Often paired with just a hint of glaze, it’s simple, but that’s the point. Its rough, natural texture softens over time, becoming even more beautiful with use. Flowing glazes accentuate its warmth, creating a perfect balance between rugged clay and smooth surfaces. Simple, tactile, and timeless.
Wood: Living Art
For his large wood pieces, Stephen selects top-quality marine-grade plywood for durability and character. Each piece is hand-sanded and finished to highlight the natural grain, knots, and subtle imperfections. Over time, the wood’s colour and texture shift with its environment, turning every piece into a living, evolving artwork. Each one is as unique as the tree it came from.
Aluminium: Extraordinary from the Ordinary
Stephen’s aluminium works are all about transformation. Years of experimentation have turned these simple sketches and material into something truly remarkable. With meticulous attention to detail, he elevates aluminium into something that’s striking, refined, and entirely his own.
BELFAST delft
Memory first. Play second. AI somewhere in the middle. Every piece starts with memory and imagination. For this body of work Stephen has quite blaitantly been experimenting with AI - as a playful tool - it's not the source of the work, but a way to see what’s possible, push boundaries, and have a laugh along the way.
Stephen Farnan’s practice is playful, experimental, and deeply personal. Whether through porcelain, sketches, wood, or aluminium, his work captures the beauty of materials, the passage of time, and the stories hidden in the everyday.