I had worked with clay a little bit at art school but it was only when I first had a go on a pottery wheel in 2015 that I got hooked on the material.
Of course I was awful at first but was I was laughing from the very beginning and completely loved getting into a big mess.
Only a month or so into the course I said to a friend ‘when I’m older I’d love a garden studio’. After having recently seeing someone I knew pass away far too early I thought ‘screw this, life is too short’.
I’m lucky enough to have a garden so I made the most of it. I didn’t have money to throw away on a whim so it felt like a huge deal, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My love for ceramics is as strong as ever.
My hand-thrown work is made under the name Black Shed Ceramics, in honour of my gorgeous studio. It has purely been a hobby for years, giving me time to play with clay and practice throwing on the wheel.
In 2018 I curated an exhibition on architectural ceramics at the Building Centre. Hand Held to Super Scale was a collaboration with fellow ceramicist Lydia Johnson. Some fab artists, architects and makers joined us to discuss their work, including Kate Malone, Eric Parry, Richard Deacon and Grayson Perry!
Walthamstow Ceramics started in 2020 when our son was born. I made a 1st fathers day mug and then a few footprint plates for friends who had also recently become parents. The project has grown from there.
Grayson Perry joining my exhibition and event. He was lovely.
My first footprint mug. A 1st fathers day gift on a handmade mug.
Wedged clay balls, hoping to one day become mugs. I make dreams come true.