MY STORY
I started my ceramics journey in 2014 after a yearning that started 30 years earlier, to throw a bowl. I studied and practiced intermittently for 6 years alongside my job at The National Theatre as a Stage Manager, where I have worked for the past 28 years. I studied ceramics at Esher Adult Learning, Sutton College and Morley College in London as well as with individual potters on a variety of smaller courses.
I decided in 2020 that my obsession with ceramics needed more attention and I started setting up my home studio during the first lockdown. With our theatre closing down and time on my hands, I found myself with the opportunity I had craved for - to do more pottery. The three hours a week in lessons I had been doing were just not giving me enough time to progress so I was so very grateful to be able to develop my skills at home. With the cancelled lessons fees I bought my first potters wheel.
EpsomPots has progressed from the kitchen table to a fully functioning pottery studio with a Little Chief Kiln from Northern Kilns, a Cowley Wheel from Pottery Crafts and a custom made workbench from my hubby.
In 2022 I started selling my ceramics with my first fair at The Horton in Epsom, Surrey.
I love making beautiful ceramics that can be picked up and admired whilst being used in ordinary functions like eating, drinking and storage. Making pottery is a long, experimental and considered process - something that is far away from the immediate, fast and dynamic life of a stage manager.
My most recent learnings are taking my work into Circular Ceramics - adding the environmental impact of the ceramics process into the choices I take when making. This led me to developing a single-fire process, firing at night when there is less demand on the national grid and repurposing packaging from others for protecting sold pots. I'm mindful of only firing when the kiln is full and not using the firing to "save" pieces.
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy looking at my work and sharing my love of this wonderful material
