ANXIOUS ARTIST TO OPEN STUDIO

This month, I wanted to highlight my recent experience taking part in the BS5 Art Trail Open Studios weekend (September 5th and 6th). Despite the rather typical British weather, it was a genuinely wonderful weekend of community and creativity. Although I work across two disciplines—silversmithing and ceramics—this event focused entirely on my ceramic work. Over the two days we opened the doors of The Clay Shed (the ceramics studio I operate out of) and it served as a welcoming hub for the vibrant East Bristol community.

THE CLAY SHED COLLECTIVE

The BS5 Art Trail is a much loved annual event on the Bristol calendar, celebrating the creative energy across the BS5 area, including Easton, Redfield, Greenbank, St George, and Whitehall.

It is a dynamic showcase of local talent, with exhibitions set up in everything from community venues to private homes, offering a unique window into the area’s creative spirit.

This year, The Clay Shed (the fantastic studio collective I operate out of) joined the trail as a specific venue. We, as members of the studio, had the opportunity to attend and our work to be showcased.

The studio acted as a hub for around a dozen potters, and this collective effort gave the whole weekend a truly inspiring energy.

It was fascinating to see the studio transformed: usually a space of 'work in progress', test pieces, and general creative chaos, it was suddenly filled with an array of beautiful, finished ceramic works. It highlighted the sheer variety of approaches within the craft. You could find everything from small, delicate porcelain trinkets to large, rugged sculptural pieces. It offered visitors a comprehensive look at what the Bristol ceramics scene has to offer.

A PERSONAL JOURNEY IN CLAY

For me, participating in the trail this year via The Clay Shed was a significant moment of personal growth. I can admit that last year I felt hesitant about exhibiting in the Open Studios and decided not to partcipate; my work felt less developed and not "good enough" compared to the established talent in the studio around me.

This time, however, the experience was about acknowledging my journey, and confidently showcasing my accomplishments. Confidence was also provided by my experiences doing local markets over the past year, and I was able to use that inspiration to create a compelling display set up on the day.

When I describe my work, I would say it sits happily in a space that is perhaps best described as rustic and colourful. This style stood in contrast to the work of some of my peers, who focuses on achieving extremely pristine forms and neat, flawless surfaces. It can be daunting to exhibit work that embraces colour and personality when surrounded by such technical perfection, but the response from visitors was incredibly encouraging. It's all about finding your people after all!

PROCESS AND PRODUCT

The most rewarding element of the Open Studio was having the time to chat with visitors about the pieces. Interestingly, the biggest point of conversation was not a finished product, but my collection of glaze test bowls. These small bowls, used to showcase how my vibrant glazes would look when fired, offered a peek into the technical, and often unpredictable, science of pottery. Visitors were genuinely fascinated by the behind the scenes process, asking great questions and even requesting to buy the tests! This confirmed that sometimes, the creative process is just as interesting as the final product.

Of course, my finished pieces also gained plenty of interest, and I was pleased to sell a number of pieces over the weekend. It is wonderful to see people connect with a piece of work and find a place for it in their own home.

Something that stood out here to a usual market was being able to showcase trial pieces, it was lovely to get community reception on those pieces, showing off future designs in the works, such as my new landscape pots and a mock of this year’s design for a Christmas ornament.

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came, chatted, and supported the local arts scene. It was a privilege to be a part of the BS5 Art Trail and share my creative world with you at The Clay Shed.

Arts trails are hosted around Bristol all year, and makers and artists love the opportunity to talk about their work, so why not seek out an arts trail in an area near you.

Photography by Jo Hounsome organised by The Clay Shed.