The Studio

In 2016 the flimsy old garden shed, already ill-fitting on the pre-existing concrete base, was clearly not going to last another winter. As the milder weather arrived, I extended the foundation slab and set about building my own studio.

It’s the dream of many makers is to have a studio space in walking distance from their home, and ceramicists and potters have the added pressure of needing to respond to the clay as it dries out, regularly checking, tinkering and fettling the work as the humidity within the piece changes.

I opted for a fully insulated, double-glazed, timber-framed construction with a breather membrane and a rubber roof. The design is, visually at least, a nod to the black-sided barns of rural Kent, and the famous Net Drying Sheds of Hastings (UK), and the thick timber cladding also adds a boost to the insulation.

Even after extending the floor slab, this hand crafted space only measures 2m x 2.5m, so it has affectionately become known as the micro-studio. I couldn’t be more pleased with the change it has brought to my practice, and I now make over 95% of my work here. It’s not large enough to house a kiln, so I carefully walk the raw work to the studios where I teach, and glaze/fire the work there.

The whole process wasn’t nearly as painful as I had feared, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Designing and making it all yourself means that you have control over each and every subtlety, allowing a bespoke feel and a very practical outcome. - It was cheap too, compared to off-the-shelf alternatives or asking a local builder to quote. I spoke to my local builder’s yard and negotiated a 15% discount off their list prices.

See photos of the entire build on my Instagram Stories.