Portfolio

Personal Statement

How Did I End Up Playing With Clay Every Day?

I have been fascinated by clay and the mesmeric quality of the potter's wheel most of my life. I finally took a pottery class at the Folk House about 10+ years ago and fell in love with it. Despite the difficulty of learning to throw, including using a right handed wheel when I am very left handed, I couldn't let it go. This resulted in many, many wonky pots. However slowly, slowly I made progress.

I left my job as CEO of Puppet Place just before COVID 19, intending the return to freelance creative producing. However, I found myself thinking more and more about the clay, so I decided to step away from the performing arts and see what the world of ceramics had to offer. 

Fast forward to now, I have now set up a tiny pottery studio in my former potting shed. I have learned (and continue to learn) the other skills that potters need: reclaiming clay, preparing glazes and firing up the kiln, also patience. I am by no means an expert, but I continue to love working with clay and I'm delighted to now be sharing my ceramics with a wider group of people.

I have included a bit more information below about my ethos and experience as a Creative Producer. Over time this website will become more ceramic focussed, but I hope to incoroporate some of my "creative producing" thinking into what I do with clay.

​

​What Is A Creative Producer?

We  all interprete this a little differently. For me, it means that my work focuses on the nexus between artists, stakeholders and the public. My role is one that helps turn artistic ideas into reality. As ideas shape our reality and as our reality shapes our ideas this is a continuous creative process.

​​​​

Background

I have over 20 years experience working in touring theatre and puppetry. Most recently, I was CEO at Puppet Place - UK Hub for Animation and Puppetry - and I am co-producer of Bristol Festival of Puppetry which I set up with Chris Pirie from Green Ginger.