Rooted in Values: The Heart Behind My Handmade Ceramics

Rooted in Values: The Heart Behind My Handmade Ceramics

In this blog, I want to share how the six values I outlined in my earlier post, A Vision of Faith and Function: The Heart Behind My Brand, continue to guide and shape my creative journey. These values—Divine Creativity, Purposeful Craft, Peaceful Aesthetic, Joy of Creation, Connection to Nature, and Beauty of Imperfection—are not simply aspirational statements. They are lived principles, woven into every part of my work as a handmade artisan potter in the UK.

So, where do I begin?

Most mornings start with a walk through the Somerset countryside that surrounds my home. The swaying trees, rolling hills, and timeworn hedgerows that crisscross the farmland provide a visual feast and a place of spiritual reflection. This daily ritual grounds me in my value of Connection to Nature, which is far more than an inspiration—it feels intrinsic to who I am. Rooted in my Christian faith, this connection echoes the words of Romans 1:20:

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”

For me, nature reveals God’s character. I see evidence of the divine in the birdsong, in the mist-covered hills, in the wildflowers pushing through hedges. This revelation fuels my Divine Creativity. Each piece I create begins in prayer and contemplation, a response to what I perceive as God's calling on my life. I do not just make pottery—I participate in a form of worship, echoing the creativity of the Creator.

This sacred act of making leads naturally into the Joy of Creation. I delight in the rhythm of working with clay—wedging, shaping, trimming, glazing. Every stage is both a challenge and a gift. I feel a deep satisfaction in doing what I believe I was made to do. This joy is inseparable from the two previous values and combines my love of God and the natural world into one flowing expression.

As a potter, I predominantly create functional work—mugs, bowls, and jugs—pieces designed to be used and loved in everyday life. This speaks to my value of Purposeful Craft. I believe that beauty and practicality should coexist. There’s something meaningful in turning the ordinary into something sacred through careful craftsmanship.

Later this month, I’ll be relaunching my art vessels, which were first introduced in 2016. These pieces are sculptural in nature and intended to be contemplative objects, inviting the presence of nature and the divine into your home. Like my functional work, they are created with a Peaceful Aesthetic—an intentional quietness, a soft voice that speaks through earth tones, gentle forms, and subtle textures inspired by the Southwest landscape.

Finally, my work honours the Beauty of Imperfection. Ceramics is a process that resists total control. Each piece can take up to six weeks from start to finish, and many variables—especially during drying and firing—are out of my hands. Rather than fight these natural inconsistencies, I’ve come to embrace them. Firing marks, warps, or unexpected colours are no longer flaws, but reminders of the unpredictable beauty in nature and life. Like every person, every piece is unique, marked by process, time, and grace.

These values are the beating heart of my studio practice. Whether functional or decorative, every item I create carries a story of faith, nature, and the quiet joy of handmade imperfection.