Jo Hartley

Jo is a contemporary ceramic artist/sculptor from the Trinity Broads area of Norfolk.

I’m relatively new to sculpture but attended pottery classes at Wensum Lodge for a few years and now work out of Kenninghall Community Studio and the Mud Hub CIC Community Pottery in Norwich.

As a response to my brother having to undergo spinal surgery, my work explores themes of decay, disintegration, healing and regrowth, specifically in nature.

I rarely use tools when working and allow the clay to inform me as to the abstracted direction of the work.

Clare Stringer

Clare is a visionary pottery artist whose distinctive creations bring a bold, tactile edge to functional art. Specializing in sizeable plant pots, lamp bases, and oil burners, Clare transforms everyday objects into striking sculptural pieces, each adorned with their signature rounded spikes. These organic, yet deliberate forms evoke a sense of nature’s resilience—think desert cacti or sea urchins—while maintaining a soft, approachable charm.

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Working with earthy clays and a masterful blend of bold glazes, Clare crafts pieces that balance rugged texture with refined utility. Their oversized plant pots, perfect for statement greenery, double as standalone art objects, adding depth and character to any space. The lamp bases, with their spiked silhouettes, cast intriguing shadows when illuminated, merging practicality with an almost otherworldly aesthetic. Meanwhile, the oil burners—bold and commanding—infuse rooms with fragrance and a touch of primal elegance.

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Each piece is hand-built and meticulously detailed, reflecting Clare’s passion for pushing the boundaries of traditional ceramics. The rounded spikes, a labor-intensive process, are both a visual and tactile experience, inviting viewers to explore the interplay between form and function. Whether you’re a plant enthusiast, a design lover, or simply drawn to the unusual, Clare’s work offers a fresh, unforgettable take on contemporary pottery.

Emma Blizard

Emma crafts hand-built hollow clay forms that captivate and intrigue. Each piece is a testament to their mastery of form, texture, and imagination, inviting viewers into a tactile and visual journey that blurs the line between art and mystery.

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Emma favours an intimate, hands-on approach, shaping each sculptural vessel with deliberate care. Their works vary in scale and silhouette—some rise like organic totems, others crouch low and enigmatic—yet all share a common thread: hollow interiors that whisper of hidden depths. These openings, carefully carved or organically formed, beckon the curious to peer inside, teasing the senses with the promise of secrets held within.

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What sets Emma’s creations apart is their innovative approach to texture, some ripple with glazed striations or bristle with raw, earthy roughness. These textures not only demand to be touched but also transform under shifting light, revealing new facets with every angle. The interplay of surface and structure turns each piece into a dynamic experience, as if the clay itself is alive, breathing with the artist’s intent.

Inspired by the natural world. Each piece is a conversation—a dialogue between maker, material, and viewer—where the hollow spaces and textured surfaces become a canvas for wonder.