About me

I live in Shropshire - the lively little town of Broseley. We moved here in late 1999.

I'd lived thirty years in a small village in North Wales: Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, which is very close to Ruthin.

I studied sculpture at St. Albans School of Art, where one of our life models said, "do things with style" (it was that extraordinary man, Quentin Crisp). I then acquired my degree-level teaching qualification at Swansea School of Art & University.

I was head of the art department at a school in Barnet in my early twenties, but I chose to become a full time artist rather than a teacher.

For a couple of years I was at Digswell House, which was a centre for arts development in Welwyn Garden City, set up by Henry Morris. I became the new resident of Hans Coper's ceramic studio when he moved on. I count myself as so fortunate to have been there with such as my late friends Peter Collingwood (weaver), Mick and Sheila Casson (ceramicists), and John Brunsdon (etcher).

From my early 30’s I was a successful ceramicist in North Wales. I created many large murals to commission in England and Wales, and there's even one in Nazareth. Examples can be seen in Ruthin, Rhyl, Bangor, Ness Gardens, Barmouth Dragon Theatre, Liverpool, Wigan Court House (unveiled by Lady Diana, Princess of Wales), and
Kingston-upon-Thames.

I also created small, highly detailed figures and houses, which often reflected a mediaeval character. Several people built up substantial collections, and one was presented by admirers to Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister.

Ceramic murals call for a lot of drawing and design preparation. I have been told that I draw "like a dream" - so when moving to Shropshire, I sold my kiln and concentrated on drawing in pen and ink. This led to a much-liked and admired book of drawings and brief commentaries - "Maggie Humphry's Shropshire".

At the same time I was experimenting across several media, including a return to etching.

But after a few years I began to paint in oils. I continueto work in themes such as landscapes, myths, boats, and more, and I am always investigating different styles and themes.