With the demise of the high street comes the loss of community and connection. I have always associated drinking tea with the sharing of news and gossip and a sense of belonging, which is why I have created these cups of tea. Each sculpture is made from a mixture of mortar, resin and ceramic paint which I used to colour the resin, always with a freshly-made cup of tea at hand for colour reference. There was only one choice of crockery for me; Beryl Ware, which was produced and designed during the war, when shortages decried that design should be simple and use as few resources as possible. The familiar green cups are synonymous with jumble sales, school cheese and wine nights and church halls. To me, Beryl Ware represents community, so no other crockery would have been suitable.

Materials: vintage Beryl Ware cup & saucer, plater of Paris, resin, ceramic paint.