Ceramics is a slow-made world. Pieces take time design, make and complete and it's a very delicate process. After mapping out designs, I hand-make my pieces, add in my makers mark, allow them to dry slightly overnight then return to smooth them down with a sponge and water. Pieces are so delicate at this stage and any wrong knock could break them! Once they are completely dry, or 'bone dry', they are ready for the firing kiln firing.

The kiln is a furnace which heats up to a target temperature usually over 12 hours, then reduces back down again. The first firing is call the 'Bisque', reaching around 1000°c. This firing causes the water to escape from the clay, turning it into Ceramic! After around another 12 hours of cooling, the kiln is now safe to open and see the results, which are now durable pieces that have changed to the colour of the clay.

I hand-paint my pieces with glaze, using a wide brush to spread the glaze evening across the piece and fine brushes to create patterns if I am doing any illustrative work. Then, they are ready for the second firing in the kiln. The temperatures here reach anything between 1020°c - 1300°c depending on what glaze you're using and what results you're after. Before firing, glaze dries quickly and has a chalky texture to it and will often look nothing like what the results will be. So, it's another few days of anticipation until we see the final results and if everything survived.

Finally, after what feels like a lifetime of eagerly waiting for the temperatures to drop to be safe enough for the kiln to be opened, we are left with the results! It is important to say that not everything goes smoothly the first time. Ceramics is very much a craft of trial and error, but my gosh when you get it right, it is ever so rewarding. We then photograph our pieces ready for sale, list them online and then the rest is up to you! The timeline of start-to-finsh for piece can be up to 4 weeks sometimes. Like I said, slow made!