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.
John discovered ceramics while still at school in his native New Zealand. He was also inspired by watching a neighbour throwing a pot on the wheel and that cemented the desire to learn more. After attending night classes to learn the basic, he built a kiln and shed in the back garden to continue making and experimenting.
John has been making stoneware pottery in the North Lancashire village of Yealand Redmayne for forty years. The firing process requires a temperature of 1320c, and a smoky/reducing atmosphere in the kiln, which results in rich glaze colours and exciting unpredictable effects on the pots. Most of the pots are classically simple functional shapes, thrown on the wheel, but John occasionally alters the freshly thrown pots to produce one of the signature forms for which he is well known.
Wendy discovered clay on an art foundation course. She went on to study at the University of Central Lancashire in 1998, gaining a BA in 3D Design (Ceramics). Since her graduation, she has continued to teach ceramics and run workshops for schools, colleges and community groups. She has participated in symposiums and workshops in Britain, Europe and America.
Since graduating from the celebrated Harrow Ceramics course in 1994, Daniel Smith has worked from the same London studio he helped establish. This continuity is reflected in his work with a commitment to exploring a family of useful forms - plates, bowls, cups, jugs, vases.
Craig was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He graduated with a Higher National Diploma in Ceramics at Harrow College, then gained a BA(Hons) Fine Art specialising in Ceramics at Portsmouth Polytechnic. He has taught extensively and became a professional member of the Craft Potters Association in 2005.
Geoffrey Swindell was born in Stoke-on-Trent. First studying painting, it wasn’t until he took up a summer job at the Pottery at Alton Towers that he decided to follow in the footsteps of his ancestor and become a potter.
