Rick Rudd says that for most of his work he takes containers as his inspiration, then interprets them through form and texture. This freestanding, sculptural ceramic shows the influence of Japanese and Buddhist traditions. Rudd has successfully emphasised the spiral in the form by using a glassy glaze to contrast with the dark surface. ‘Raku fired’ is an oriental term relating to pottery removed from a kiln with tongs while red-hot. It is then placed in a bed of combustible materials, such as sawdust, which is what gives it its characteristic smoky finish. Rudd was born in Great Yarmouth, in England and attended the Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design from 1968 to 1969. Following further study in Germany and Wolverhampton, he came to New Zealand in 1973. Since then he has concentrated on pottery, making mainly hand-built raku pieces. Rudd has won many awards and his work is held in numerous private art collections and most major public collections.