Meet the Maker: Get to Know Me
Hello there! I'm excited to share a bit about myself.
My Background
I’m Felicity. Originally from Fulham in London, and near Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, so I grew up surrounded by the influence of ceramics, but never really paying attention to it.
I’ve since lived in South Africa, Kenya and have now settled in Brighton, UK, with my family, where I make ceramics in my home studio.
I love colour and shapes and use them to make items that are both practical and attractive.
Having suffered from mental health issues since I was a child, I discovered pottery, and found that not only did it satisfy my need to be creative, but also helped with my depression and anxiety.
I love the diversity of what can be done with clay, as well as the infinite number of colours and effects that can be created. Being able to make everyday items that are beautiful is very satisfying, because why shouldn’t the things we use everyday bring us joy?
Pottery is ⅓ Art, ⅓ Science, and ⅓ timing and being patient, all of which are good things to practice.
My Process
I’ve been working full time as a potter/ceramics artist and selling my work now for 6 years. I truly love it, and couldn’t imagine my life without it.
I both throw on a wheel and hand build. Unfortunately my disability prevents me from making work that is too big, so I stick to the smaller items. So I make a lot of mugs, but also platters, dishes, egg trays, small planters and vases.
Of all the items I make, mugs are my favourite. There is something about the fact that these are items people use everyday, and I’m able to convey a story on them. I don’t normally plan out what I’m going to make, but rather throw or make the form and then see which each piece would suit. I get easily bored and so most of my items are one off pieces, which is the way I like it.
I do make a few items again and again, and this is my core collection, which consists of a few designs that have sold well consistently, and bring me joy.
With my one off pieces I have a few signature styles. I love nature and flowers, animals, especially marine life, but also love mystical, macabre, celestial designs. I would describe my style as mostly modern, sometimes cozy and rustic, sometimes whimsical.
All my work is made from stoneware clay, as this is much stronger than earthenware, so less likely to chip, and is fired at a higher temperature. My favourite colours to use are pink sand purples but these are difficult to achieve at stoneware temperatures. So I have experimented a lot, to find out which glaze and under glaze work at the temperatures I work at.
I strive to bring you the best quality unique, decorative and useable ceramics, along with many new captivating designs introduced regularly, so be sure to add our shop to your favourites. My handmade ceramics are meticulously crafted by myself, in my studio based in Brighton, from the finest quality stoneware clay, and glazes. Each piece is assembled by hand and on average take 3-6 weeks to complete, and it goes through several stages, and 2 or 3 firings in the kiln, which fires up to about 1220 degrees centigrade. Although I take extra care making all my pieces, all items are handmade and so may not be “factory perfect”, but this adds to the charm.