Mineralscape

A Geology-Based Pigment and Ceramic Research Project (2015–Ongoing)


Mineralscape is an extensive, ongoing body of work by artist and ceramicist Paul Devon Young, exploring the natural pigmentation of Devon’s land and aquatic environments. Launched in 2015, the project involves collecting, processing, and cataloguing earth materials from within Devon’s borders—ranging from clays, soils, and rocks to sands and aquatic minerals.

Over the last 10 years, Paul has processed and archived more than 700 unique pigments, many of which are reserved for future ceramic works—especially those under his evolving Cobology series.

Focus on Devon’s Geology

Mineralscape documents the rich diversity of local clays and pigments, with particular attention to:

Ball Clays of the Bovey Basin – Rare, colour-rich clays indigenous to the region, historically referenced in the 1929 Ball Clay Memoirs by Alex Scott. Paul has located and processed many of these varieties himself.
Sedimentary Clays – Found across the north and southeast of Devon, offering a wide spectrum of textures and hues.

Dartmoor Granite Clays – Stoneware-grade material with high oxide content, ideal for strong ceramic bodies and pigment extraction. These clays share structural properties with Exeter’s historic red brick clays.

Grus (Growan) Decomposed Granite – A unique material with ~20% plasticity, used to enhance clay body strength and texture. Comes in a variety of colours and granular finishes.

Refractory Clays – Especially those from the Heathfield and Newton Abbot areas. Highly heat-resistant, these are used in saggar firing and experimental modified cob methods.

Paul’s work also explores marine-derived pigments. These include:

Shell-Based Pigments – Featuring large clam shells and mussel shell blues, particularly from the North and South Devon coasts.
Ferrous Sea Pigments – A wide variety of iron-rich colour sources found in intertidal zones and estuarine sediment.

These pigments evoke a visual language reminiscent of 1940s coastal colour palettes, with a striking, often unexpected vibrancy.

More About the Project

Paul has compiled extensive location-based pigment maps and lists for fellow artists interested in foraging wild clays and minerals. His research was featured in Dartmoor Magazine, Spring 2019, in an article titled Mineralscape, which delves into his geological methods and fieldwork.


“I see the land and sea as open archives—pigments are stories waiting to be uncovered. My job is to listen, process, and transform.”