The creation of our new ritual mug with By.Noo

Can you tell us a bit about your journey into ceramics? What first inspired you to start working with clay?

Pottery was always something I had wanted to try my hand at. I’ve always been an artistic person and after a long stint with working with computers with my creativity on the back burner, I was craving an outlet to work with my hands. I started with evening classes which quickly developed into a full studio membership. I then had a small studio in my garage before finding the building I am in now. I never thought that ceramics would become a business for me, so I feel very grateful everyday that I am able to do what I love and share it with those around me.

We love that your work draws inspiration from everyday objects and structures. Can you share more about the specific things that inspire your work, and how you translate these inspirations into your ceramic designs?

Many things inspire me, stretching from physical things to intentions. One of my most recent collections featured warm oxide markings. The design of these markings was the journey of the River Wensum as it flows through Norwich, my home city. Something inspired by intentions will serve a greater purpose which goes beyond the aesthetics of the piece. It will be designed to consider weight, hold and how it functions to fulfil the intended need. I am currently exploring a range of serving dishes and platters based on the intention and visualisation of the sharing and gathering of food and (and with) friends.

In line with the mission and values of Ancient + Brave, your brand prioritises sustainability and ethical practices. How do you ensure these values are upheld in your work?

It is an inescapable fact that pottery uses materials collected from the earth. This ranges from the clay itself to materials used in creating glazes. Accepting this fact is an important part in being able to respect clay and its processes as an art form. Materials deplete, and so it is important to treat them with respect.

Within the studio, I make sure to buy only what is needed and recycle what I can. Unfired clay is reprocessed to be reused again and any broken or misfired objects are used in the studio or broken down and repurposed. Where possible, I source materials locally from small businesses or go outside to responsibly forage.

As part of our collaboration, you’ve been working on a special mug as part of our ritual accessories range. What inspired your design for this mug, and how do you envision it being used with our products?

The biggest inspiration for the ritual mug was centred around an intent: A vessel that could be held or hugged and bring a moment of nurturing with its use. Something that was just the right size to be able to give the owner a portion of time where they can pause and nourish themselves with their chosen A+B product. This will look different to everyone, but it was imperative the design of the mug gave the owner this space.

Can you share some behind-the-scenes moments or challenges that came up during the design and crafting stages?

The design was all about making sure the weight, handle and size would suit the intention but thankfully, these were dimensions I had already experimented with in my own practice. With production making, there are always challenges in success rate. A few cracks appeared on some mugs at various stages but any that did, were either recycled to be made into something else or now exist as a tool holder in the studio.

Your ceramics showcase the natural colour of the clay rather than adding artificial colours. What is it about the natural tones that appeals to you, and how does it influence the overall aesthetic of your pieces?

I have always been drawn to earthy, muted tones. I am mostly drawn to the colours which form naturally geologically. I have found as I have delved deeper into my ceramic practice, my true joy is within the geology of the earth and the foraging of these materials to use in my practice. There is no greater joy for me at the moment than finding wild clay and processing and testing it back in the studio. These interests permeate as not all objects can be made in this ‘wild’ way so I showcase the natural clay colours to celebrate them.

As someone who crafts pieces meant for everyday use, what do you hope people feel when they hold one of your creations in their hands?

My hope is that people integrate my pieces into their daily routines. One of the most important pillars of by.noo is the carving of space for oneself however that may look. Ceramics is a very tactile art form and how the object feels is very important. I try to weigh the mugs to feel comforting and shape the handle to be held multiple ways but the thing I hope for the most is that people use my creations to feel they are honouring themselves in their own way.