Discover the North East Ceramicist Whose Work Combines Form and Function

Tell us what you do.
As a ceramic artist, I make wheel-thrown home and tableware that aims to combine altered forms with modern glazes and textures to create contemporary pieces, blending beauty with everyday functionality. I also run pottery workshops, inviting people to learn the art of ceramics – whether they’re beginners or looking to refine their skills. I value heritage, craftsmanship and sustainability and offer a creative, tactile experience both in the pieces I make and the workshops I lead. It’s all about connecting people to the joy of handmade.

What’s your background?
I’ve always lived in the North East and I studied here too, first at Newcastle College then moving on to completing both my BA Hons in Glass and Ceramics and PGCE at University of Sunderland. My degree stood me in good stead but as with a lot of things it’s not until you put it into practice and sometimes make your own mistakes that you really learn! Throwing in particular comes with practice, so the pieces you see now are the result of countless hours spent practicing on the wheel over the years.

How would you describe your design style?
Ultimately for me functionality has to come above all else. My aim is to bring quality, handmade craft into the home, for my ceramics to become part of people’s ritual and enhance the every day. For that to work the pieces must be a joy to use. I tend to start with an idea and refine it over several months, creating a piece, using it myself then making adjustments and testing over again, eventually arriving at a finished piece that I hope people will reach for every day and get pleasure from using. I love developing glazes and I’m always looking for glazes which add extra depth to the piece – I want the user to see something different in the glaze each time they use the object.

What’s the hardest part of what you do?
There are never enough hours in the day to get through everything I’d like to. The work I make is just a fraction of all the ideas in my head. There are some things sketched out but a lot hasn’t even made it that far yet. I’d like to make time to work through some more ideas.

What’s the best part?
There are lots. So many people come along to workshops and insist they’re not creative or artistic then make the most beautiful things. I never tire of seeing the joy, surprise and often pride on their face when they unwrap their creations. Opening the kiln after a glaze firing comes at a close second, it’s like Christmas, if I ever stop getting excited by that then it’s time to give up.

What are you currently working on?
The work I make shifts with the seasons, so at the moment I’m making heart-shaped mugs ready for getting cosy on chilly, winter nights. A customer recently described them as snuggle mugs. And for when one cup of coffee just isn’t enough I’m working on giant mugs, I tend to only make these at this time of year so they’re a bit of a limited edition piece, but they’re the mug I always reach for when I need to thaw out after a chilly walk. I’m also finalising next year’s workshop programme which is really exciting.

What can we expect from you at Living North’s Christmas Fair?
I’m looking forward to being back at Living North’s Christmas Fair, it’s when you know Christmas is well on its way. I’ll be bringing along the classic pieces but I’m looking forward to debuting new glazes and colourways. I love them but it’ll be the first time anyone else has seen them, so I’m nervous to see what the reaction will be.