I am a potter in my 50s, born and bred in Northamptonshire.
I love working in clay and was inspired in my early teens by a local village potter to start making in clay, and went on to do a Degree in Ceramics at Loughborough College of Art in the late 1980s. My father was the well-respected painter and illustrator, Rodney Ingram, so I was positively encouraged in my creativity.
After university, I worked as an artist in residence in schools and I had my own ceramics business until my children were born, and then honed my project management skills as a manager in Childrens and Family services in Northampton.
I enjoy making things people treasure and use and most importantly give them pleasure and make them smile, it is wonderful to also develop bespoke commissioned pieces as gifts and for weddings and other occasions. My pottery pieces are often based on the things that I enjoy - simple pleasures, like watching the birds on the feeders in the garden, a walk in the countryside, or visiting the seaside. My work has a slightly retro feel with bright contemporary illustrations.
Kettering is a wonderful town with a healthy community feel. I am extremely lucky to have a bright, spacious, purpose-built pottery studio surrounded by my lovely garden. Much of the workshop is fitted out with valued equipment and furniture that either has been given to me or reclaimed. The radio is always on, BBC Radio 3 is my favourite for working to and for when I am running my pottery experience days where I teach throwing on the potters wheel.
