Featured Interview – The Cotton Potter
How long have you been making your work and how did it all begin?
As a child of the seventies, a lot of my time was spent making things – as shown on Blue Peter and picking up dressmaking skills from my mother who made nearly all my clothes. After a diploma in general art and design followed by a degree in ceramics at
What processes & techniques do you use in your work?
I tend to look at fabric as if it were a slab of clay, often stiffening it with interfacing to reinforce it and then experiment with different patterns to create ‘slab-built’ style vessels. I have started to design my own fabric which is something I want to develop much further.
What are you inspired by?
My main inspiration is Ceramics, particularly vessel forms. I’m also inspired by nature, particularly birds and flowers.
Do you have a work space or studio? What is it like?
I do have a small studio in my garden but invariably end up traipsing into the house and working in the kitchen or sitting room instead.
The majority of my work is sold online through Folksy and Not on the High Street though I sell to a few B & M shops and galleries as well.
How do you promote your work?
I have a neglected facebook page and that’s about it, but I am happy with the flow of sales I have currently, so promotion isn’t top of my to-do list at the moment. If I ever give up the day job to concentrate purely on The Cotton Potter, I would definitely need to hone my promoting skills.
What goals do you have for the future?
Although I love my day job I do dream of one day turning the Cotton Potter into a full time business. In the short term I would like to work on some more of my own fabric designs and put them into production in the form of wraps and slip covers.
What advice would you offer to someone thinking about turning their craft/art into a business?
Gosh, I wouldn’t know where to start, but what I found helped me was planning my style, product range, pricing, packaging etc, getting it clear and organised in my head before entering the market.
A few of your favourites (just for fun)….
Colour: Pink
Animal: garden birds, hares
Season: Spring
Food: italian
