My place of work was located just up the road, and I was usually early to arrive, using the time to walk amongst the trees, listen to the birds and … quite literally – touch grass after a day spent on a computer. 

Using nature for inspiration and botanicals to decorate my pottery sparked a deep love and joy for the craft.  The studio where I took my first steps on this journey is located in the serene Risingholme Park .  

I befriended the Ginkgo tree and used its leaves in the creation of many my pieces ever since, but the park offers an abundance of textures and forms. 

It feels like child’s play  to gather leaves and grasses, select the ones that suit a vessel’s form and press them into the moist clay to imprint their delicate architecture. 

After the first firing, I may apply underglaze to highlight the markings, then gently wipe them back with a damp sponge and dip the piece into transparent glaze to preserve the subtle pattern. If more robust plants leave deeper impressions, an elegant translucent celadon glaze can transform a simple plate into something sublime.