Pottery
I began to learn how to throw pots whilst at 6th form College, teaching myself from books, then afterwards at Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University) as part of the 3Dimensional Design course.
My pottery tutor was Alex McErlain, a great teacher and encourager. He trained first under Derek Emms at Stoke on Trent Polytechnic and then under Ray Finch at Winchcombe Pottery. I also got to spend one summer gaining pottery experience under Peter Dick, who had trained under both Ray Finch and Michael Cardew. At that time Peter was producing slip decorated high fired earthenware in a wood fired kiln, creating glaze results which I’ve never seen equalled elsewhere.
Coxwold Village – the pottery is just behind and to the left.
However, I chose to pursue life as an art teacher, so my own pottery was limited to 2 weeks each summer and the occasional throwing session at school. All pots during that time were fired in an 8 cu ft electric kiln. When in 1998 I moved to the Isle of Wight my Alsager potter’s wheel moved with me. A year later a 9 cu ft propane gas kiln was added to my equipment even though I didn’t at that time have a workshop. A few years later however a workshop became available at Carisbrooke Priory. My gas kiln was fitted up, my wheel moved in and after buying supplies of clays and glazes I once again began to make pots.