Over the years, we have produced and nurtured some of the UK's most prolific visionaries, designers and ceramicists. As a result, we have played an important role in the art and design movements throughout the last century which continues in the twenty first century. Our proud history of design and innovation includes many distinctive contributions to such periods and movements as the late Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Modernism.
Throughout the years Poole Pottery has become renowned for excellence in design and commitment to developing innovative collections. Over our long and successful history we have created work for many of the finest retailers and organisations throughout the world.
Pottery as Art
Alan White
Master Potter
Alan is perhaps one of the most well known of Poole's Master Potters due to his many TV appearances. Joining at 16, Alan has been associated with Poole Pottery for 40 years and worked his way through many of Poole's production departments. His designs and shapes are sought after by collectors worldwide.
Victoria Higginbotham
Artist
Vicky is seen here in the factory at Stoke-on-Trent adding detail to a design on a Manhattan Vase. She is one of the founder members of the Burslem team, having worked at several top class art potteries.
Graham Moss
Sprayer
As demonstrated here by Graham each piece is sprayed by hand with the Poole Living Glaze. The technique is highly skilled with consistency and depth of application being critical to the final product
The Kilns
The raw items formed in clay are firstly bisque fired before being passed to the sprayers and artists. An item may be fired a number of times as the decoration is enhanced with the addition of metallic lustre.
Jane Brewer
Designer & Artist
Jane is seen here painting a piece of Gemstones in the studio at Poole. Jane, in addition to her many limited edition pieces, continues to paint and decorate the Living Glaze collection each day. Her most recent design is the new "Star Flower".
Quality Control
Here we see Lynn, one of our most experienced quality control selectors, who checks every piece for imperfections before it is wrapped and packed into its Poole gift box.
Nicola Massarella
Designer and Artist
Nicki has been associated with Poole Pottery for 27 years, having worked with Barbara Linley Adams on stoneware animals, birds and plaques. She also worked with Tony Morris on one-off productions of studio ware. In 2004 Nicki's "Precious" design won the Gift of the Year Award.
Esther - the Dog
A key member of the Poole team, who provides the excuse to have a break with a stroll along Poole's famous Quay.
The Potters
Complimenting the studio in Poole are the 'Potters' in Burslem, the Mother Town of English Ceramics.
Pottery is an art and each piece of Poole is uniquely hand crafted. Once a shape has been thrown it is dried and fired in the kilns to remove the excess water within the clay. This bisque piece is selected and if it meets the standard would then be decorated by hand.
Once dry, the pot will be hand decorated by a team of skilled artists. Using their immense skills, a freehand interpretation of each design is produced and will vary with each stroke of colour.
Once complete, the artist will personalise the finished product on the base before it is fired. Each artist has their own mark which adds to the value of collecting Poole Pottery.
In addition to Jane Brewer and Nicky Massarella in Poole, there are also four artists in Burslem:
A process started over 200 years ago continues in England today, enhanced by the benefits of modern technology but never losing touch with tradition.
