Coastal Blue Espresso Cup – Coffee Bean Motif

Every piece that passes through my Sussex-based pottery studio takes time — usually around 2–3 weeks from start to finish.

Each one begins life on my potter’s wheel, where it’s carefully thrown by hand. A few days later, once the clay has reached the “leather hard” stage, I trim the form and burnish the base until smooth. If a piece needs a handle or one of my small badge details, that is added at this stage too.

The pots are then left to dry slowly in the studio for around a week. Once fully dry, they are loaded into the kiln for their first firing, known as the bisque fire, reaching around 1000°C. This transforms the clay into ceramic — strong enough to handle, while still porous enough to absorb glaze.

Next comes the magic of glazing. I dip each piece into one or more of my custom-made glazes, layering colours and finishes to create rich, organic surfaces. I spent a long time developing my signature Sea Smoothed Pebble glaze, inspired by stones polished smooth by the sea.

Once glazed, each piece returns to the kiln for its final firing at full stoneware temperature. This is where everything comes together: strength, durability, and that finished glossy surface.

Then comes the waiting — the kiln takes more than two days to cool before I’m able to open it and see how each piece has turned out.

It’s a slow process, but one I still find deeply rewarding. I hope that care can be felt in the finished piece and enjoyed for years to come.

Caring for the environment is important to me and shapes the way I run my studio. I want you to enjoy your piece knowing it has been made with care for both people and the planet.

All clay is reclaimed and reused, whether from trimmings or a pot that did not quite make it. I also use a water-settling system to keep waste to a minimum and reduce overall water use.

When it comes to firing, I use a well-insulated kiln and only fire it when fully packed, helping to make each firing as efficient as possible.

That thoughtful approach continues with packaging too. Your pottery will be carefully wrapped using plastic-free materials that are fully recyclable or compostable.