Toni Richards

I knew, after my first encounter with clay, at the age of 20, that pottery is good for the soul. After a long career in education, I came back to ceramics. I am partly self-taught. On retiring from teaching, I attended adult education classes to learn the basics, before completing an HNC course.

Primarily I make things for myself. Things I enjoy looking at, touching and using. I love living with beautiful things that give me joy and contentment and I strive to make things that are visually attractive, that catch the eye.

I mainly work with a stoneware clay which has a high porcelain content, it is fine, yet versatile. I throw some pieces and hand-build others, both techniques are highly satisfying. The most time-consuming part of the making process is decorating. I love to use coloured slips to draw, paint and print on the surfaces of my pieces.

What motivates me, intrigues me, influences me? Everything - from the peeling bark of a silver birch tree to a fish lying on a wet slab, a rusted piece of metal or a shadow.

I hope you enjoy looking at my work.