Deana returned to college in 2003 to follow her lifelong passion for Ceramics, and since 2005 she has assisted ceramics masters like Gilda Westermann, Svend Bayer, Françoise Dufayard, Sandy Brown and Tom Barnett.
After graduating, she was one of 39 emerging artists to be selected for the Chinese Arts Centre’s Professional Artist Development Scheme; in 2011 Deana was one of six artists shortlisted for 2011 Potclays Emerging Maker Award; and recently she was shortlisted for BBC Two’s programme “Show Me The Monet.”
Deana specialises in creating her organic smoke fired ceramic sculptures, dishes and wall art at her studios in Earlsfield and Wimbledon, London. She often breaks the pieces either pre or post firing and then rejoins them with industrial resin which is then covered with either silver leaf or 22 carat gold leaf to create a rich vein through the work. Her art is in private collections around the world and she specialises in commissions where she can create a piece of art that is specific for people and places, usually incorporating sand from the clients homes, holidays, adventures or special locations.