KATHLEEN Finlay Horsman, ARCA, MBE, better known to her many friends and students as Katie, has died suddenly at her home in her 89th year.
Born in North London, she studied at the Hornsey School of Art, then the Royal College. After teaching at the Liverpool School of Art, Katie moved to Edinburgh College of Art to
the department of ceramics in the 1940s.
Enormously enthusiastic abut the technical challenges of contemporary pottery, she greatly expanded the activities of
her department.
Her experiments with Scottish clays and salt glazes gave her work a continuity with traditional Scottish pottery.
Further, she encouraged links with young contemporary
potters from America and
the great master of Japanese potters, Hamada.
Their visits and exchanges inspired the students and in addition led to some marvellous discoveries.
She was invited to lecture in ceramics at summer schools that were held at universities in
California and Colorado for many years.
Katie was a tremendously loyal friend and a great supporter of young artists and potters.
She visited America privately many times, and Peru to
attend an important World
Craft Congress.
These visits proved to be very inspiring for her.
Her own work is special and her unique creative vision was based on her perceptive and elegant drawings.
Her pottery cats, birds,
horses, and bulls have a quirky individuality, and have been avidly sought-after by collectors and friends alike.
After her retirement from the Edinburgh College of Art, Katie began a happy new life as a gardener extraordinaire, and a collector of cats.
Until the very end of her long and very fulfilled life, Katie gave so much to us all.
We remember her creative genius, her warmth of character, and her delight in simple things.
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