A native of Somerset, I have been working for the past 40 years close to West Sedgemoor, an area of Somerset which I have grown to love more and more over the years. It is ever changing, atmospheric and inspirational.

My childhood was idyllic, living on a farm in north Somerset in the 1950’s. No television or mod cons, most of my time was spent outside. I was particularly fond of creating dens in the old pig sties and making mud pies.

I discovered pottery – more like mud pies! – at the age of 16 when I attended Frome Technical College. I knew then, what my career path would be. I attended an art foundation course Taunton College of Art in the late 60’s followed by a three year Studio Ceramics Course at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art. Today, when working, I still apply all the skills and disciplines I was taught by practicing ceramicists on that course.

When I left college in 1972 I shared a space at Bath Pottery where I started my own collection of work under the guidance of Steve Mills, founder of Bath Pottery and Bath Potters Supplies.

I moved to Burrowbridge in 1976, which is when I discovered West Sedgemoor and started making ceramic plaques on the kitchen table. After a short spell in Langport in 1985 I settled in the village of Drayton where I still live and work.

My work is thrown on a modified Leach kick wheel, a gentle process where mind and body work rhythmically in a quiet way. I often use slab building for larger items. Colour is achieved by slips rather than glazes, and items are decorated with techniques such as resist, stencilling, sgraffito and sponging. All work is twice fired in an electric kiln.

I consider myself an artisan, and have a great sense of satisfaction and achievement every time I sell an item entirely hand made by me.

My work has been sold extensively in galleries and shops in the South West. I was a founder member of Makers, a craft cooperative retail shop and gallery, which operated in Taunton for over 25 years.

In 2017 I founded an arts hub at a local residential home, organising exhibitions and workshops which were available to residents and the general public. This capitalised on my experience and interest, which I gained on an Erasmus funded project called Handmade Wellbeing. This project involved the delivering of arts and crafts to residents in care homes, and gave me the opportunity to visit care homes in Austria and Estonia.

I am a member of The Somerset Guild of Craftsmen.