After 3 years (1969-1970) of learning from Norwegian potter Ivan Tandberg in Oslo, Svein Hjorth-Jensen moves over to France where he starts working with a potter in the Champagne, Jean Tessier, in Villenaux, bij Troyes.
Attracted by the potters village La Borne, very well known among the potters circle, he decides one day to step into his old 2CV to discover this place…
This meeting took place in 1970 and it was “fatal”. He settled there and still lives there today.
Svein is focused on a graphic style of work, he does research on new glazes and develops decorative motives.
Alongside this production of glazed ware he also starts constructing a huge wood kiln (Anagama type 2004) in order to realize also high fired work in long firing sessions, researching the effect of the flames and the ashes on the raw material.
He shows his work at home and on exhibitions throughout France, a.o. Gallery Sauvaire in Paris (1990-2005), gallery Terra Viva in St.Quentin-la-Poterie 2011 and elsewhere. He participated on an exhibition in Deventer in 1999 and again in 2012 when he participated in a ceramic box exhibition.
In 1998 an article on his glazed work appeared in the French Magazine “La revue de la Céramique et du Verre” .