Ceramic Art London

I had an amazing time last Friday at Ceramic Art London. I have always heard about it but never managed to go. This year, I sorted out childcare for my son months in advance and made a date with my sister, also a potter) and baby nephew to meet up and geek out together.

My sister, Tamsin, did an apprenticeship with Helen Beard who was exhibiting and between us, we either knew, or had seen day long demonstrations by many of the ceramicists there. I was particularly keen to see my favourites, Chris Keenan and Carina Ciscato as well as Jack Doherty and others who I had read about in Ceramic Review. We immediately got chatting to almost every standholder and made slow progress around the hall at Central St Martins where it is held. It was delightful. We talked pots and babies with everyone, managed to spot Kate Malone, of huge beautiful pots and Pottery Throwdown fame, and admired everything.

The hall wasn’t too big but we managed to take almost all day going around it just once. Of course, with a small baby in tow, we had a few pit stops along the way and were well fuelled by coffee, cake and a surprisingly good lunch from the uni canteen.

I got a few trophies in the form of two mugs from Adam Frew, a northern Irish potter who works in porcelain and gorgeous celadon colours, along with surface decoration of blue and little orange spots. I have been using my mug pretty much solidly since then and my husband’s is also very well used. I subtly mentioned to my sister that perhaps this was an excellent place for her to find a birthday present for me because I have a rather significant one coming up in August. The delight of shopping for a pot was huge and I settled on a mini moon jar with great swirls of oxide under a celadon glaze (again) from Tricia Thom. I carried all three pots back with me in my backpack on the coach home to Norwich. Needless to say, I didn’t throw my bag around too much on the journey!

My sister and I have agreed that this will be an annual pilgrimage to Ceramic Art London. I have also an ambition to appear there myself so I hope to be able to achieve that some time in the not too distant future.