Born and educated in the USA (Missouri, Iowa and Michigan). Moved to Yorkshire, England in 1972,
established the Booth House Gallery and Ceramics Studio in Holmfirth 1975. The gallery specializes
in ceramics with a primary focus on his studio practice.
Work is usually slab built and slip decorated before multiple layers of glaze are applied. Often working
to commission, including large-scale sculpture and architectural ceramics. Jim enjoys an
experimental approach to making, combining personal construction techniques with unusual surfaces
created through direct impressions, painting and stencils. References include the Yorkshire
landscape, dry stonewalls and weather events. All pieces are fired to durable stoneware
temperatures in gas kilns.
An enthusiast who both makes and promotes ceramics, he is an elected Fellow of the British Craft
Potters Association, former Chair of the Northern Potters Association and Master of Ceremonies at
the Aberystwyth International Ceramic Festivals (where he was awarded the coveted Lifetime
Achievement Award in 2025). He has written for many Ceramics publications and is author of skill
handbooks on Large Scale Ceramics, and Slab Techniques. Commissions include public murals and
sculptures (several in Yorkshire and Holmfirth Town Centre), Cambridge and Liverpool.)
Studio and gallery open by appointment.