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Save our Species project goes on display in the Cloister

To mark Luke Jerram's Gaia at Durham Cathedral, we commissioned Becky Mackenzie, a local ceramic artist, to create ceramic pieces of art of extinct and critically endangered species, in partnership with schools in Durham.

The Project

The Save our Species school outreach project is a display of illustrations of extinct or critically endangered species carefully printed onto ceramics.

The cathedral team commissioned artist Becky Mackenzie earlier this year to work with pupils aged 7 to 15, from Durham Johnston Comprehensive School, St John’s Academy in Darlington, Elemore Hall School, Durham and Hollis Academy in Middlesbrough. The pupils were asked to think about the biodiversity crisis and create monochrome illustrations of species that have become extinct in the last 100 years, or that are on the critically endangered list.

The 336 drawings created by pupils were then printed onto ceramic plates crafted by Becky, to create an installation covering the hoardings of all four corners of the cathedral Cloisters – each with a different species including insects, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and water creatures.

About the Artist

Based in an old barn near Hardrian's Wall, Northumberland, Becky Mackenzie's work is influenced by Japanese ceramics, using throwing, casting & hand building techniques to create tactile and minimal pieces.

Becky works with young people and communities, delivering art-based learning opportunities across the North East. The processes used in Save our Species project are the same as her ceramic bowl range, which celebrates her love of wild adventures and wild swimming.

Becky said,

"I have been really impressed by the response and enthusiasm from the schools. Although the students were provided with a brief of species to get them started, they took initiative to research other plants and animals to highlight, resulting in a really extensive and varied body of work. The quality and diversity of the illustrations are incredible.

The Process

Pupils from five County Durham schools designed illustrations, before being turned into ceramic transfers, a process that dates back to the mid 18th Century. Becky transferred the illustrations to hand cut tiles, inspired by the cathedral's ribbed vaults.

The tiles were fired three times - an initial bisque firing, followed by a higher glaze firing and then a final transfer firing, where images are fired onto the glazed surface and made permanent.