Guest Maker: Cliff Ellis

Retail Gallery 22nd May 2024 - TBC

From his home studio in Ashburton, Cliff Ellis creates beautiful, practical homewares with a distinctive aesthetic influenced by the studio pottery of Bernard Leach, Mike Dodd, and Phil Rogers. Cliff has been making and teaching in Devon for over 25 years and his work is sought after by shops, cafes, and restaurants – as well as discerning collectors.

Deeply influenced by his childhood experiences of a self-sufficient lifestyle and the of his father’s love of craft, Cliff was imbued with a profound appreciation for functional art from an early age. Almost entirely self-taught, he bought an old wheel and kiln as a student and has since devoted countless hours to perfecting his craft, emphasizing that practice is crucial to mastery.

Cliff’s work is made to be functional as well as attractive – and he takes great pleasure in knowing that his plates, mugs, bowls, and many other forms will see daily use. He continually experiments with shapes and glazes, creating compelling effects in mainly reduction-fired pots – although the construction of a new soda kiln promises new colours and effects.

As sustainability becomes more vital, Cliff has observed a renewed public interest in handmade items. His creations - each unique yet part of a cohesive aesthetic - are celebrated for their individual quirks. For Cliff pottery is not just an artistic endeavour but a therapeutic escape offering solace to both the creator and the learner in an increasingly hectic world.