The making process

Discover the journey of how each Beetle Ceramics piece comes to life, from the initial spark of an idea to the final kiln firing. Learn about the passion, precision, and personal touch that make our handmade stoneware truly special.

From a spark to a passion

My journey into pottery began almost by accident, after joining a short one-day pottery class. I enjoyed it so much that I followed it up with more classes and then a night college ceramics course. From there, it became a lot of practice, learning, experimenting, and slowly developing my own style.

Having studied graphic design, I have always enjoyed colour, shape, and form. Pottery gave me a way to bring that creativity into something physical and practical. What I love most is the whole process of making each piece by hand, from throwing on the wheel to testing glazes and finally opening the kiln to see the finished results.

The intricate stages of creation

I am most excited to share the full handmade process behind each piece. I enjoy every stage, from preparing the clay and throwing on the wheel, to trimming, shaping, glazing, and firing. Each step leaves its own small marks and details, which is what gives handmade ceramics their character.

I also enjoy creating and testing glaze recipes, as the glaze can completely change the feel of a piece. The colours, textures, and movement are never completely predictable, which makes the final kiln opening one of the most exciting parts of the process. Every Beetle Ceramics piece has gone through a slow, hands-on process, with care, patience, and a little bit of surprise along the way.

The beauty of small-batch artistry

My personal touch and small-batch approach mean that every piece has its own character. I make each item individually, so the shape, glaze, texture, and finish can vary slightly from piece to piece. These small differences are what make handmade ceramics special.

Unlike mass-produced items, my ceramics show the marks of the making process — the movement from the wheel, the handmade shaping, and the natural variations that happen during glazing and firing. I like that each piece feels tactile, honest, and made with care. Small-batch making also gives me space to experiment with forms, colours, and glaze recipes, so the work can continue to develop rather than all looking exactly the same.

Inspired by the natural world

I find a lot of inspiration during nature walks, by observing colours, textures, shapes, and small details in the natural world. I am drawn to earthy tones, weathered surfaces, bark, stone, moss, water, and the way natural colours sit together.

These ideas often come through in my ceramics as natural textures, organic forms, and earthy glazes. I like pieces that feel calm, rustic, and tactile, with glaze effects that suggest movement, depth, and a connection to nature. Rather than trying to make everything look perfect, I enjoy allowing the clay and glaze to show their own character, creating pieces that feel handmade, natural, and unique.

"Each piece from Beetle Ceramics tells a story, beautifully crafted with a heart for nature and a unique touch."

A happy customer