Contemporary Ceramics gallery and shop exhibits the greatest collectable names in British ceramics along with the most up and coming artists of today. Our distinguished makers are all carefully selected members of the Craft Potters Association.
All of our makers are members of the Craft Potters Association and each of them have a story to tell.
David read philosophy and literature at Warwick University. Realising the lack of jobs as a philosopher, he became a potter and taught part-time in the ceramics department at Wolverhampton University for thirty years. This allowed him the space in which to continue with his personal practice. He was awarded a PhD from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2016. David used the inquiry within his thesis to examine the question of how he could employ the language of materiality, making, and firing (particularly raku) to critically focus on issues of personal identity.
James and Tilla Waters create their pieces from a studio in Mid-Wales. Carefully considering where hands hold pieces and edges meet mouths, their forms have classic clean lines with beautifully balanced proportions.
Emily-Kriste Wilcox works from her studio in Birmingham, and has been a professional ceramicist for over 15 years. She was recently awarded 'Best Ceramics and Painting Studio 2020' in the West Midlands category of the UK Enterprise Awards.
Alistair studied ceramics at Bath Academy of Art and set up his first pottery studio in Gloucestershire in 1978, producing thrown reduction fired stoneware for a range of companies. While continuing with his own making he later took on the running of the studio ceramics department at The Royal Forest of Dean College and instigating a series of potters conferences.
Akiko Hirai produces both practical and decorative ceramic ware that is held in private collections and museums worldwide. Her Japanese background and aesthetics strongly influence her ceramic work while her pieces are also perfectly rooted in contemporary designs.
With a BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art, an MA in Communication Design, and following a career in design and academia, Amanda-Sue first came to ceramics by enrolling on a course at Morley College, London in 2012. With further short courses and by joining a communal ceramics studio Amanda-Sue continued to develop her practice, making the step change to becoming a full-time ceramics-artist in 2018. In 2020, Amanda-Sue co-founded Grove Vale Ceramics, a gallery and studio in East Dulwich, London.
