Lauren Gray

Orange Route

I have been enjoying making pots at the wheel for 30 years and still learning about the possibilities of the clay in terms of form and construction as well as surface decoration and how these elements can come together. I love the simple joy that a piece of handmade ceramics can bring to the user – this, and our natural environment feed my inspiration.

Behind the Scenes
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About My Practice

I work with soft porcelain clay to create vessels on the potter’s wheel. I like to explore the fluid nature of the clay at this stage and the idea that the forms can be determined by the process and the use of tools – sometimes the marks left by accident are the most interesting part. I then refine and finish the work during the leather-hard stage. At this point, I enjoy exploring mark-making techniques, such as stamping and incising the surface, often enhancing the work with coloured oxides. Following bisque firing, I apply splashes of transparent coloured glazes and occasionally incorporate prints to add depth and dimension to the final piece.

As I also co-run a busy Pottery teaching business (Clay Works Studio), I snatch every available moment to make my own work. I hope to be able to be able to find more time for this as making pots brings me the greatest joy of all!

Tools & Materials

I feel incredibly fortunate to have my own spacious and fully equipped pottery studio, which I share with my partner, Chris Taylor, as we run our pottery business together. The studio is often alive with music, conversation, and laughter. During quieter moments, I relish the opportunity to create on the wheel using porcelain clay. I then decorate my pieces with stamps, mark-making tools, and expressive strokes, often experimenting with random objects to create unique textures. Finally, I apply floral prints and transparent coloured glazes before firing the work at high temperatures in an electric kiln.