001 (4).JPG — Tony Morris Studio

From 2004 until 2012 Tony produced pottery from his home studio at Upton near Poole.

above - self portrait

Above - typical marks. The left hand plate thrown by Russell Sydenham, the central plate thrown at Poole by Alan White.

Clown artwork and plates

Above - Tony Morris clown plate, 1962-1964. Tony returned to the theme at Upton.

Tony designed artwork and a series of plates depicting circus clowns in 2004. These were the first pieces made in Tony's studio at Upton.

Above centre - ringmaster. Above right, trapeze.

Faces and people

Above - sun face designs, similar to the design on the 1964 coffee table (shown below left),each subtly different.

Above left - 1964 coffee table. Above right limited edition Poole Pottery interpretation (this was nothing to do with Tony and he did not wholly approve).

Above - sketch and initial design for the tile panel below

Above - offset tile panel 2007

Above - Maori warriors

Above left - friends and pet cat; right Maori warrior wearing a skull cap (the plate was made during the rugby World Cup).

Above left - Aztec influence. Above right, Mexican rain-god, 2006.

Above - large sun-face tile panel, before and after firing.

Above - house number design (left) and tile panel in situ.

Above - Portland quarrymen.

Above - stylised Maori death masks

Guy Sydenham

The Purbeck series

Tony took inspiration from the local Dorset scenery.

Dorset coastline

Favourite subjects included Old Harry Rocks, Corfe Castle, Durdle Door, Portland and Poole Harbour. Poole power station (above right and below) also featured in some of Tony's 1960's designs.

Above - Fortuneswell, Portland Harbour, Weymouth and Chesil Beach. The sailing events for the 2012 Summer Olympics were being held at the time. The sails of the 5 dinghys in the harbour are in the colours of the Olympic rings which they represent.

Top - topographical depiction of Dorset villages and landmarks.

Above - Poole Harbour

Tile panel 2010 showing Poole Quay in the 1960's. The gantries at the top of the panel were used for unloading coal for the adjacent gas works (see contemporary photographs below). The train service ran on a branch-line to Poole Quay providing coal for the kilns at Parkstone Pottery.

sketch by robert jefferson - early 1960’s

The working quay showing the coal dock, gas works, Poole Pottery buildings and kilns (left).

Medlar Tree, Wakeham Portland

Designs inspired by the medlar tree (top left) in Guy and Joan Sydenham's garden at Wakeham.

Above - medlar tree/Garden of Eden 2009

Above - broom and wild teasel flower heads (continuing a theme of Tony's from the 1960's).

Birds

Tony was a keen bird watcher and subjects included ducks, owls, yellowhammers, gannets puffins and petrels as well as more exotic species such as hummingbirds, flamingos and toucans.