West Forest Potters

Patricia Millar Wheel thrown bronze and iron age forms are slipped in local clay, burnished and pit fired. An interest in a sustainable practice means fuel is sourced locally. From storm dumped seaweed and wind fallen trees, to using local woodworkers’ shavings to fuel 3 day pit firings. This ancient flame art marks the work… Continue reading Patricia Millar 13th October 2021

Mollie Brotherton This was a very enjoyable online talk. Available for members to watch the recorded version for a limited time only. Mollie Brotherton is the creator of Terrain Vallonné. Terrain Vallonné is French and roughly translated means the undulating land. What I love about this region where I live is the changes in season,… Continue reading Mollie Brotherton Terrain Vallonné Ceramics and Collages September 8 2021

Members only online talk Elaine says: ‘An out of character decision to apply for series 2 of The Great Pottery Throwdown resulted in a place on the show and subsequently an internship with Kate Malone. This in turn helped with and inspired my application to the newly formed Clay College in Stoke on Trent. which… Continue reading Elaine Wells May 12 2021

Members only online talk. Richard Wilson Richard Wilson was born and brought up in Norwich, and has been making pots since the early 1970s. After studying for two years at Great Yarmouth College of Art, he worked from 1974 to 1980 at Le Dieu Pottery in Norwich before spending 3 years in Australia and New… Continue reading Richard Wilson April 2021

Members only online talk. I am a ceramicist with a love of the vessel in its many forms- the idea of containment fascinates and continually challenges me. Although I began my ceramics journey as a hand builder, I found throwing on the wheel suited my exploration better. I trained at Harrow, on the renowned ceramics… Continue reading Jacqui Ramrayka 10 March 2021

Wednesday 10 Feb 2021, 8:00pm virtual (members only) Rachel Wood (10 Feb 2021)       The marks of making and assembling reflect the journey of exploration and learning in each piece, just as a wrinkle or dimple depicts expression and character in a human face. The colour, texture and energy of her forms are… Continue reading Rachel Wood February 2021

Wednesday 11 March 2020, 7:45pm at Polehampton Junior School Katherine Kingdon- Fatbelly Pots (11 March 2020) The following photos were taken by Martin Eastabrook:   Katherine Kingdon aka Fatbelly pots March 11th 2020 Katherine opened her talk with a game she calls ‘Who am I?’ the audience are each given a small handmade card with… Continue reading Katherine Kingdon 11th March 2020

Wednesday 12 Feb 2020, 7:45pm at Polehampton Junior School Ruth Gibson (12 Feb 2020)   Notes Ruth uses the process of screen printing to produce porcelain bowls, jewellery and fine art work to be displayed at shows, exhibitions, open studios and galleries. Ruth is a professional artist and is able to employ studio assistants to… Continue reading Ruth Gibson 12th February 2020

Paul Wearing   25 January 2020 at Knowl Hill Village Hall Paul Wearing – West Forest Potters Day Notes 25th January 2020 Paul started his day with us showing slides of early work – the first being a beautifully executed slab house compete with tile detailing made when he was in Primary school, his talent… Continue reading Paul Wearing (Potters’ day January 2020)

Wednesday 13 Nov 2019, 7:45pm at Polehampton Junior School Linda Bloomfield (13 Nov 2019)     Linda Bloomfield designs and makes tableware based on her thrown porcelain, with dimples and visible throwing lines showing the hand of the maker. She uses a tactile satin matt glaze on the outside and colour on the inside. She… Continue reading Linda Bloomfield 13 Nov 2019

Wednesday 9 October2019, 7:45pm at Polehampton Junior School Sarah Jenkins (9 October 2019)   WFP Speaker Notes – Sarah Jenkins Oct 2019 (By Caroline Gatfield) Sarah’s vessels are informed by the landscape she sees around her home in North Essex and are therefore ever changing and evolving as she tackles more complex ways of layering… Continue reading Sarah Jenkins 9 October 2019

Wednesday 11 Sept 2019, 7:45pm at Polehampton Junior School David Wright (11 Sept 2019)     David Wright has been working with clay for over forty years All his work is handbuilt, mainly with coils or ropes of clay, using a coarse textural body either Grogged Pink or a lighter clay Pot Clays David Wright 153-2152… Continue reading David Wright 11 Sept 2019

Wednesday 12 June 2019, 7:45pm at Polehampton Junior School Kirsteen Holuj (12 June 2019) Kirsteen Holuj 12 6 2019 Kirtseen describes herself as a maker of ceramic, but this title does not really cover everything that she does. She uses electric , soda and raku kilns from  Westbury Arts Centre south of Milton Keynes. www.kirsteenholuj.co.uk/ … Continue reading Kirsteen Holouj 12 June 2019

Our annual exhibition is taking place over the May Day bank holiday weekend, as part of the Henley Arts Trail. Members will be exhibiting and selling their work and there is an opportunity to vote for the best in show. Refreshments are on sale with delicious cakes and a chance to take a breather from… Continue reading Annual Exhibition (4 – 6 May 2019)

Wednesday 10 April 2019, 7:45pm at Polehampton Junior School Russell Kingston  Spending my youth spread between heavy metal festivals and sub heavy raves (that’s loud music for you older folks). It dawned on me that at some point I was going to need a “real job”. I decided that a 2 year course in ceramics… Continue reading Russell Kingston (10 April 2019)

Wednesday 13 March 2019, 7:45pm at Polehampton Junior School Mick and Lesley Dixon (13 March 2019)   Mick & Lesley Dixon run Bartley Heath Pottery which is situated in North Warnborough near Odiham in Hampshire. The Pottery is close to Junction 5 of the M3 between Hook & Odiham. They opened in 1974. They have… Continue reading Mick and Lesley Dixon 13 March 2019

  Mark Smith   24 January 2019 at Knowl Hill Village Hall     Potters Day with Mark Smith – January 2019 Describing himself as ‘a bit of a Womble’ Mark says this is due to the fact that he is a regular skip raider, reclamation yard dweller, beachcomber and avid collector of all things… Continue reading Potters’ Day Mark Smith (January 2019)

Wednesday 13 February 2019, 7:45pm at Polehampton Junior School Richard Ballantyne and Carol Read have been working together and collaborating for around 8-9 years. Richard from a background of a degree in Interior Design and many years of teaching followed by completing a BA in Glass and Ceramics. Carol worked as a nurse while completing… Continue reading Richard Ballantyne & Carol Read (13 Feb 2019)

Wednesday 14 November 2018, 7:45pm at Polehampton Junior School Robyn makes functional wheel thrown stoneware from her home studio in Cardiff.  She received a BA(hons) Ceramics from Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2008 and has been actively working within the field of ceramics since. Her pottery captures a rustic warmth with full forms and contemporary surface designs.… Continue reading Robyn Cove (14 November 2018)