20 years of
The Village Pottery
A message from Jen to mark 20 years of The Village Pottery.
“I’ve been reflecting over the past 20 years and when I think back to the very beginning in 2005 when I had a little studio in Clifton which had a shop & cafe attached to it, my main focus was to educate people on the processes involved in pottery. At that time in Bristol, there weren’t many studio potters around and most people connected with ceramics via mass produced items from IKEA & Habitat. Studio pottery was just starting to become popular, but people didn’t understand why, at the time, you’d pay £3 for a mug in IKEA and £10 for a mug in my shop. Today Bristol is blossoming with studio potters and not only can you see how pots are made, but you can try your hand at the wheel too!
Over the past 20 years I’ve been so fortunate to have many wonderful hands come to help in the studio. Some for a few days and some for over 10 years. Many have gone on to pursue their own practice and are continuing to share their knowledge and passion for clay.
I’ve been finding myself coming back to this main focus, and wanting to go back out into the community to educate and share my knowledge. I’ve been taking my clay into local groups and what’s surprised me the most is how excited children are to hear they can actually use their creations. Children are so used to working with air drying clay, they don’t often get to experience the joy of creating something and then using it.
This autumn I’m excited to announce that I’ll be visiting the ClayShed to continue to share my knowledge and passion for clay with a Q&A session reflecting on the last 20 years in business. I’m so grateful to have been doing what I love and it wouldn’t be possible without the help from others so this year is all about giving back.”
Keep your eyes peeled for a special limited edition NEW product launching soon!
MORE ABOUT JEN & THE VILLAGE POTTERY
After graduation from Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2004 with a Ceramics BA(Hons) degree Jen went on to establish The Village Pottery in Bristol. She wanted to create a space where people could witness the processes involved in creating ceramics and experience using hand thrown pottery. The Village Pottery was first based in Clifton Village, a little shop and cafe with a studio attached to it. The public could come in, sit down, use the work and watch Jen in her studio. Over the years the business evolved to offer lessons, baby feet imprinting, wedding lists and restaurant commissions. Soon outgrowing the shop, Jen set up another larger studio in Easton-in-Gordano.
Jen has worked with Michelin starred restaurants across the country. Clients including 2* Sat Bains in Nottingham, Whitebrook in Wales and many Bristol based restaurants. Sometimes treading a fine line between ‘man’ and machine. Her work has been featured on Masterchef, The Great British Menu and in Country Living. Jen has also had to balance her career with family life; training up others to produce her pottery whilst on maternity leave and shaping the business to try and achieve a good work/life balance. For the past 17 years or so Jen has worked along side other like minded ceramicists sharing knowledge and passion for all things clay related.
The Village Pottery shop in Clifton closed its’ doors in 2018 and started solely working from the studio in Easton-in-Gordano. Now Jen sells her work mainly online to an established client base, in Prior ( a not-for-profit independent shop in Bristol) and at a selection of markets and art trails in Bristol.
