Ceramics is a slow, intentional craft. Each piece takes time to design, shape, and finish, and every stage requires care and patience. I hand-build each piece demo my home studio. They are then left to dry slightly overnight before I gently refine the surfaces using water and a sponge. Some pieces are then hand-painted with my signature illustrative designs.

At this stage, the work is incredibly fragile, even the lightest knock can cause breakage. Once fully dried, or “bone dry,” the pieces are finally ready for their first kiln firing.

The kiln is a furnace that slowly heats to a target temperature over many hours before gradually cooling again. The first firing, known as the bisque firing, reaches temperatures of around 1000°C. During this process, all remaining moisture is driven from the clay, permanently transforming it into ceramic.

After around 3 days, the kiln is finally safe to open. Inside are durable, hardened pieces that have taken on the natural colour of the clay, marking the first true reveal of each finished form.

I glaze my work in two ways: by hand-painting with brush-on glazes or by dipping each piece. Once glazed, the pieces are ready for the kiln again. This firing reaches temperatures between 1100°C and 1300°C, depending on the clay body, the type of glaze used, and the purpose of the piece. For example, tableware is typically fired at higher temperatures for strength and durability.

After this, it’s a few more days of anticipation before the kiln can be opened. The final reveal to see the finished surface, colours, and whether each piece has made it safely through.

Finally, after what feels like a lifetime of waiting for the kiln to cool to a safe temperature, the results are revealed. It’s important to say that not everything goes perfectly the first time; ceramics is very much a craft of trial and error. But when you get it right, it is incredibly rewarding.

Once the pieces are finished, I photograph them ready for sale, list them online, and then the rest is up to you. From start to finish, a single piece can take up to four weeks to complete. Like I said — slow, lovingly made!