British Ceramics Biennial 2025 – Slip Tales

6th September – 19th October 2025

Spode Works, Church Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1BU

Slip Tales is an exploration and appreciation of the history and heritage of Staffordshire slipware. This was a project that I led, delivering workshops to mixed community groups with the aim of connecting them with the history of Staffordshire. We looked at large celebratory plates and slipware from The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, and the narratives entailed in the works of the Toft brothers and others. We used contemporary colourful slips to create pieces of tableware for a dinner party. While making we focused on personal narratives and tales, using the clay as a canvas for telling a story. The Dinner Party is a place of hope, as art and food can transcend barriers. The Slip Tales Dinner Party celebrates the bringing together of cultural differences and similarities in eating and food sharing traditions from around the world.

A small selection these works will be on display in the British Ceramics Biennial. For more information please click here.

A Brief explanation for my support artists

The inspiration for the working method and historical context of the series of Slip Tales workshops is Staffordshire Slipware. For this I have put together a series of slides of photos taken from the collection in Hanley Museum. I was particularly interested in the large celebratory plates by the brothers Thomas and Ralph Toft, and Samuel Malkin, as a vehicle or a canvas for telling a narrative. I envisage using the plates as a canvas for telling a story with a personal narrative that connects with the individual participants. 

I have also used the model of The Dinner Party, by Judy Chicago. This was a large dinner table installation. Her intention was to create ‘a reinterpretation of the Last Supper from the point of view of those who had done the cooking throughout history.’ She wanted to celebrate women’s history. In this Slip Tales Dinner Party we are focusing on drawing on personal narratives and tales, bringing together the cultural differences and similarities in eating and food sharing traditions from around the world. This is to be created using the techniques of Staffordshire Slipware. The Dinner Party installation, a large dinner party for the final exhibition piece, is a means of bringing together the work of the four separate community workshop groups in Stoke-on-Trent. 

Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party ‘reminds us that the history of Western civilisation … has failed to represent the experiences of half of the human race. But The Dinner Party is also full of hope – for Judy Chicago believes that art can transcend the barriers between us.’ It is my hope that we can create such a dinner party that brings people and narratives together.

The detailed breakdown for each group to be added later.  I need to consider transportation issues, scale and storage issues for work which is slip-decorated, and will be wet at the end of each session. 

In each of the workshops there may be some trial flat pieces which can be cut into tiles. JC’s Dinner Party sits on on a tiled floor. These tiles can also be used on the dinner table as additional coasters, or on the floor.

Depending on timing, the work will be glazed using a clear glaze, possibly in the final workshop.

 The Dinner Party, Judy Chicago, March 1 – May 26  1985, London. p2 Welcome to the Dinner Party

British Ceramics Biennial – Playscapes

During the biennial I will be part of the engagement team on the Playscapes project. Come along to see what is happening there and say hello and introduce yourself.

Wardlow Mires Pottery Festival – A Celebration of the Table

Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th September 2025

Wardlow Mires, Wardlow, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 8RW

I will be showing some of my own work with about 80 potters at this annual event that showcases the work of some of the country’s finest functional pottery makers. It is a celebration of art, craft and culture. Come along to explore the world of functional ceramics and to support the artists.

See the 2025 brochure for further information.

Leek Open Studios – Meet the Maker

Saturday 20th September 2025, 10-4pm

Leek College, Stockwell Street, Leek

This is a one day event. Leek Open Studios Meet the Maker aims to bring artists within a 30 mile radius together to celebrate and showcase their work. My actual studio is not in Leek, it is in the Peak District near Longnor, about 8 miles from Leek. But on Saturday 20th September I will be bringing some of my work along to the Leek Open Studios event, and hope to engage with my Leek audience. I will be in Leek College, Stockwell Street, so please come along to see my work and to show your support.

Outside Arts – Longnor Village Signs

I was requested to run some workshops for members of the village of Longnor to make tiles for signs for the village. Members of the community decorated a leather-hard tile using coloured slips, with a design they associated with the village. These will be installed soon.

Stockists:

I also have work for sale in the in the following places:

The Old Lock Up Gallery, 19 The Hill, Swifts Hollow, Cromford, Derbyshire DE4 3RF

This lovely little gallery has a regular update of my pots. They are all individually chosen by the director Rachael who visits my workshop/display to select pieces.

The Moorland Cafe, Market Hall, Market Place, Longnor, Buxton SK17 0NT

A selection of pieces are on display and for sale here.

The Art Barn, Oakenclough Hall, Longnor, Buxton SK17 0QS

I have a large selection of completed pieces on display here. Visit me by appointment. This is also where I have my workshop.

Homeward Studios, 60b St Edward Street, Leek, ST13 5DL

A few of my pieces are for sale here.