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 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.
Hannah’s pots are inspired by traditional British earthenwares and her decoration is derived from the world around her. Often the floral abundance in her garden and the surrounding wilds, both cultivated and untamed, are referenced in her pots. Sometimes there are political statements veiled in imagery of folklore and symbolism.
Ian’s work is a contemporary interpretation of country pottery. His salt glazed domestic ware focuses on line, surface and balance. He likes to emphasise tactility and evidence of the maker’s hand, highlighting the subtle marks and fingerprints from handling and attachments. This, combined with clean lines make his work approachable and usable, while giving the work extra durability that comes from the firing process.
Sarah studied at Bath Spa University where she graduated with a BA(Hons) in Ceramics. She met fellow potter Jon Williams there, they married and set up their studio in 1994 at Eastnor Pottery, near Ledbury, Herefordshire. She collaborates with her husband to offer pottery experiences from Eastnor Pottery & The Flying Potter.
Taja came over to UK from his native country Japan to study oil painting and settled in Devon over 40 years ago. He was inspired by so many potters in the south west, so he started making pots using his friend’s pottery workshop. He is largely self-taught. He found that slab and coil built pottery suits him the most. He started experimenting with porcelain clay about 20 years ago after being inspired by enormous blue porcelain wall tiles at a new Japanese airport especially the water-like quality of the blue glaze.
Gaby trained in Ceramics at Goldsmiths College and established her studio in 1982 with the help of a Crafts Council Setting-up Grant. She has exhibited widely in the UK, Europe and America, and China, and her work is represented worldwide in private and public collections.