Meet: Victoria of
Little Wren Pottery
I’ve been making pots for about two years now, which I know makes me very ‘young’ for a potter I still get things wrong every now and then but its a learning process!
It all really started when my Dad, who’s also a potter, wanted to get me to have a go. It’d been a number of years since he’d done any potting, I can still remember the wheel he used to have when I was a little girl but he’d long since sold it on. So we went to collage together mainly to use their facilities and for me to pick up the basics of throwing. Since then we’ve gone on to acquire our own equipment and set up a small studio space.
What processes & techniques do you use in your work?
I throw all my pots on the wheel. They start out life as lumps of clay and are transformed into cups, bowls, vases and anything else I can think of! Most of my work is embellished in some way either with things like mice, made from a press mould or patterns stamped onto the surface.
I really like adding these elements to a pot, I just feel it gives each one a personality and I’d imagine at home people will be able to differentiate the subtile personalities of particular mice within a set to have their favourites!
In pottery terms I’m largely inspired by Isaac Button, Shoji Hamada, Bernard Leach and Michael Cardew. I like the mix of producing items that are both decorative and functional, the principal of everyday beauty is really important in my own work.
I’ve always loved the Pre-Raphaelite artists as well in particular Gabriel Dante Rossetti and William Morris. In a more general way I really like the beauty of nature, the way light dances through leaves like stained glass and tiny birds that hop around in my garden they’re all welcome.
Do you have a work
space or studio? What is it like?
I have a very small workspace, its a little cramped being up in the loft of the house. Unfortunately there isn’t any running water or electricity so as you’d imagine this makes life a little difficult. I’m pretty fortunate that I have a small compact wheel for throwing on, just don’t stand up too quickly or you’ll hit your head on the roof!
I sell my work largely online on Etsy, Folksy, and Dawanda. Recently I’ve been attending more craft fairs in my local area and hopefully I’ll be able to do more of these as time goes on.
How do you promote your work?
You can find me on Twitter and Facebook, I’m a bit of a Twitter addict I’m on there all the time! I also regularly publish blog articles over on my site, I think its really important for people to feel like they’re in touch with the process. From time to time I get featured in magazines too which is really invaluable to spreading the word.
I’d love a new studio one with running water, electricity and somewhere I can comfortably stand up! I don’t pot full time either but I’d love to spend less time working and more time potting.
There aren’t really many barriers to setting yourself up in having a small business these days, theres only really the barriers you put up for yourself. It’s a lot of hard work especially when your basically starting from nothing to build up your business into a brand, stick at it though, it takes time to become established and for people to find you. I certainly feel like I’ve come on an awful long way in the last 18 months and hopefully there’ll be more changes to come yet!
Colour: Ruby red or plummy purples, I can never decide.
Animal: I love animals just in general four legs or two feet it doesn’t matter! Of course I love Wrens, they have such personalities and for such a tiny bird it has a big song.
Person: Although I work with my Dad all the time I’m a Mummy’s girl at heart!
Food: Got to be chips, or more specifically a chip butty in a lovely soft roll. With vinegar, and mayonnaise and ketchup ha : )
Website: http://www.littlewrenpottery.co.uk
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Thank you for sharing your pottery and work processes with us Victoria. I love the coloured glazes that you use to decorate your work!
Great interview and lovely pottery!