Brian Paul Bearne

Yunomi by Brian Paul Bearne, (Rainbow Pottery, Torquay)

Seems there has been a bit of confusion over this mark, with missattributions for Mike Steveni and Emily Myers. However, Steveni's wife says it's not his, and it's not the potting style of Myers.
Below is an example of Bearne's mark next to the Lotus Pottery mark.

I had not heard of Brian Bearne until seeing this so have no idea if this is his work or not.

I agree that it is nothing like Emily Myers work so accept that it isn't by her and if Mrs. Steveni say it isn't by her late husband, who I've never heard of, I have no problem with that.

However, I think it is necessary to explain why that means this is definitely by Brian Bearne.

I wasn't sure either, because there's little online about him but maybe that's just because he died as a relatively unknown before the Internet really took off. Anyway, a couple of fellow collectors also have pieces by him which matches this mark.

There is a Brian Bearne Memorial Prize awarded by the Southwest Academy of Fine and Applied Arts in Exeter, so it seems he's more appreciated down the South West.

Having looked around the internet there are miscellaneous attributions of items of studio pottery to a Brian Paul Bearne in various auctions but without any reasons for the attributions.

However, the majority of references to a Brian Paul Bearne are to the one born in 1937, who was an auctioneer and valuer in the Exeter/South Devon area for most of his life and who seems to have died around 2000.

The Brian Bearne Memorial Prize awarded by the Southwest Academy of Fine and Applied Arts is dedicated to this auctioneer for being a great supporter of the Arts in the area throughout his career.

I also note that you say that this yunomi was made at the Rainbow Pottery in Torquay. I have been able to find a company, Rainbow (Torquay) Ltd., that was active from 17 May 1991 until it was dissolved on 2 October 2001. This was a "Fine Art Auctioneer and Valuers" and from 1991 until 1997 the auctioneer, Brian Paul Bearne, was a director. Nothing about a pottery.

The mystery deepens :) I've also seen references to him potting in Penzance. Pottery may not have been his 'day job', which would explain the lack of info and pieces.
There are several pieces in York and Aberystwyth museum collections, unfortunately without photos. I'll mail them and move this back to ID My Pottery until I get a reply.

Having looked on the net I think the Aberystwyth items appear to be records/papers from the Rainbow Pottery, which seems to have existed in Torquay from 1986 until at least 1994 when Terri Holman was there. As Brian Bearne is mentioned in the Aberystwyth records and the auctioneers I found was called Rainbow (Torquay) Ltd. it seems likely that the person is the same. It could mean that he potted at the Rainbow Pottery or simply that he might have own the premises and support Terri in her pottery career at that point. If she could be contacted she might be able to throw some light on this.

Checked the York website and, although no images as you said, Naomi, they have 2 bowls by a Brain Paul Bearne from 1987/88 that are both described as cut sided with crackled chun glaze. That certainly wouldn't rule out your yunomi being made by him and fits in with the Rainbow Pottery date above. It does indicate that he made pottery and, as you stated, it might not have been his day job.

I've sent York the images and asked them to compare the mark against their pieces. We'll see what they say.

No mention of Emily having worked at Lotus Pottery, Potty, and there's definitely a Lotus vase with both marks, so I think we can rule her out.

Hopefully they will confirm it is the same, which will solve the mystery once and for all, but, if not, then at least it documents the evidence as to why it isn't by him.

Either way I think it will have been worthwhile.

York Art Centre confirms it's Brian Paul Bearne's mark.
Just to double check, I took a look at Emily Myers' mark at the Oxford Ceramic Fair, and while it is almost identical, it is in fact a lot smaller, so definitely not hers.

Thank you for your enquiry to York Art Gallery, apologies for the delay.
I have cross referenced the potter mark with our pieces and research on the potter and would confirm that this is Brian Paul Bearne's mark. Hope this is of use.

That's great, Naomi, but why don't these hobby potters all just scratch their initials on the bottom of their pots?

Please help me to identify the maker of the bowl shown in the attached photographs. I have seen Emily Myers mark but I have not the experience to distinguish between the above potter's marks and mine.  I thought maybe Mr. Bearne's because of the treatment but the blue does look Islamic?  many thanks

Myers’ mark is quite small so I think we can rule that out. It doesn’t look much like Bearne’s usual style of pot, but there aren’t many examples of his work for comparison so it’s still possible. A third option is the late Mike Steveni. His wife, Dinah Steveni is still potting so worth asking her

Hello and thank you. I will follow up on these possibilities. Just for clarification because I had magnified the marks in the earlier post here is a better photograph. kind regards

An update. I contacted Ms. Steveni as you suggested and she very kindly provided the following information.  Apparently both she and her late husband used a screw head to impress their marks and a D, or M to distinguish their works - Mr. Steveni's early pieces (86-90) would not have had an initial with the single screw head mark unlike the double mark on my bowl. Neither ever used the surface treatment on my bowl or turned a foot ring in that style. (By the way this research has led me to Ms Steveni's website of superb ceramics and paintings which is well worth taking a view. I shall be returning.)

Very useful information So most likely to be by Brian Paul Bearne

I am not much of a joiner-in but having just discovered this chatter about my dear friend Brian, I felt compelled to make an effort for the sake of his memory.
Bearnes auction house was the family business based in a stylish mansion in Torquay. The pottery was in the grounds.
I have several of his beautiful pots.

Wonderful to hear personal reminiscences.
He seems to have been a peripatetic potter; borrowing kiln space from other potters.
Edited to add, just found a reference to him in the University of Wales Aberystwyth Ceramic Archive, 2022, at Rainbow Pottery with Terri Holman

Do you know if he had any links to Lotus Pottery? A mark very similar to his appears alongside their LP mark on a few pieces.

Hello

The second piece I picked up today and I quite like it myself.

Two circles with lines impressed mark.

Thanks in advance for any help

Thought to be by Brian Paul Bearne

Thanks Naomi, I see there maybe a Lotus Pottery connection with him which is cool.