Brimming with ideas, I often think that designing is my favourite part of the making process. I have always loved brain storming and pushing ideas around the page until they all come together to form an original design. A stack of sketchbooks sit in the corner of my study filled with nearly 20years of doodles. I enjoy dipping

into this catalogue of past works now and again, sometimes merging elements of forgotten designs with more recent ones, bringing new life to both.

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With a background in horticulture and living in the country side, there is no doubt that I am somewhat influenced by nature and my immediate surroundings.  Leaf impressions for example and floral designs will always feature in my makings, as will animal and bird depictions. Most of my

ideas tend to have very humble beginnings and can be sparked off by the smallest and strangest of things; don’t ask me why but in my case, usually dismantled objects that are destined for the dustbin or mechanical parts that lay strewn around my father’s workshop! I’ve only got to lay eyes on an interesting-shaped component or maybe a pattern in the grain of a piece of wood and I’m off; the creative wheel starts spinning. The rest of the designing takes place in my head and in my sketchbook, a process that I find to be very rewarding.  I take a lot of time in perfecting designs and considering how I will go about the making. Projects differ, but I need to decide what clay to use,  plan any stamp and mould making, consider the decoration and glazes that I might use use, what temperature to fire to and how I might link the different components after firing. Once I have a sensible plan in place and organised all of the materials in my workshop, I can look forward to making.

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