Creating slipware using red earthenware clay is a captivating process, deeply rooted in centuries-old traditions. One of its greatest charms is the ability to produce pots that are rich in historical significance.

I have often heard it said that you cannot hide yourself in a pot. This becomes especially clear when decorating pots with coloured slips, where each stroke and placement of decoration must be precise, as there is no room for error.

The fields around my home are scattered with fragments of the very pots that inspire me the most. These sherds of red earthenware pottery, dating from medieval times to the early 20th century, are a testament to the long history of country potteries that have since closed their doors. Finding a piece of slipware in a field never ceases to excite me and my wife! We often walk our two whippets and our lurcher with our heads down as we scan freshly-ploughed fields looking for treasure. Recreating pots using these old techniques has continued to rouse in me a certain something - a reason to get up each day and create my work.