Potfest in the Park – Inspiration in Every Direction

Victoria
Jul 27
3 min read

Yesterday I was lucky enough to attend Potfest in the Park at Hutton-in-the-Forest. Set against the backdrop of one of Cumbria's most beautiful country estates and blessed with glorious sunshine, it was the perfect setting to spend a day immersed in ceramics. Described in the programme as a "world-class, open-air gallery," it certainly lived up to that promise.

As always when visiting ceramics exhibitions, I found myself naturally drawn towards a particular aesthetic and style of making. However, one of the greatest pleasures of Potfest was seeing such an extraordinary breadth of work. The diversity of forms, techniques, glazes and creative approaches on display was both humbling and inspiring. It challenged me to look beyond the types of pottery I instinctively gravitate towards and reminded me how many exciting possibilities exist within the medium.

Rather than reinforcing my existing preferences, the day encouraged me to be more adventurous and less predictable in my own work. I'll be sharing plenty of photographs at the end of this post, but I wanted to begin by highlighting the ceramicists whose work resonated with me most deeply and left me feeling particularly inspired.

John Calver

John Calver's stoneware immediately caught my eye. His beautifully simple forms, combined with rich, reduction-fired glazes, created stunning colours and depth that changed with the light. His work was a reminder that simplicity, craftsmanship and the firing process can combine to produce truly beautiful ceramics.

Adam Keeling

Adam Keeling of Whichford Pottery was generous with his time, happily chatting about his work and explaining how he uses local clay and locally made slips to create his beautiful earthenware. It was fascinating to hear about his process, and the connection between the materials and the landscape gave his work a real sense of place.

Charlie Collier

Charlie Collier was another maker who was generous with his time. Having trained as an apprentice at Whichford Pottery, he now produces beautiful wood-fired stoneware. We couldn't resist buying one of his gorgeous mugs, finished with a wonderful Shino glaze, which will be a lovely reminder of the day.

Anne-Marie Jacobs

I was particularly drawn to the work of Anne-Marie Jacobs, whose inspiration comes from the salt marshes of Essex. Like me, she finds endless inspiration in these coastal landscapes. Her slip-cast white earthenware, layered with beautiful green glazes, captures the colours and textures of the marshes in a truly stunning way.

Melanie Keevil

Melanie Keevil's handbuilt white stoneware was another highlight. Her pieces are carved and built up with layers of slips, stains and glazes, creating wonderful depth, texture and contrast. Strongly influenced by a sense of place, her work has a quiet, atmospheric quality that I found particularly inspiring.

Tom Knowles Jackson

Tom Knowles Jackson's high-fired stoneware was another standout. Using glazes made from iron, copper and wood ash, together with slip decoration and reduction firing, he creates beautifully rich and characterful surfaces. His work perfectly demonstrates how traditional materials and techniques can produce contemporary, striking ceramics.

David Wright

David Wright's raised vessels particularly caught my attention, as they connect closely with the direction I am exploring in my own work. Handbuilt using coils of coarse clay, his forms have a wonderful sense of strength and presence. Fired in a downdraught kiln and finished with wood ash and Shino glazes, his pieces celebrate the natural qualities of the materials and the firing process.

Margaret Curtis

I was particularly drawn to Margaret Curtis's striking use of materials and colour. The combination of black clay with thick porcelain slips, topped with a rich blood-red glaze, created a dramatic contrast and a real sense of depth. Her work showed how powerful a limited but carefully considered palette can be.