Dan Dee

People often imagine that running a pottery studio means spending long stretches of the day making pots. In reality, the day moves quickly and is a mix of practical tasks, teaching, problem solving and constant small decisions that keep everything running smoothly. The morning usually starts with a walk through the studio to see what needs attention. We check pieces drying on the shelves, prepare clay for classes, set up tools, refill slip buckets and get the wheels ready. There is a steady...

One of the most exciting moments in the making process is deciding how to glaze a piece. Many beginners think glazing is about choosing a colour from a shelf, a bit like picking a paint swatch. In practice, glazing is far more creative than that. It is about how the glaze moves, how it settles, how it breaks on edges and how different layers interact. Once people understand this, glazing becomes one of the most enjoyable parts of working with clay. At The Northern Pottery we use a range of...

There is a certain magic in the first mug you ever make. It may be a little uneven. The handle might tilt slightly to one side. The base might not sit perfectly flat. Yet it holds a charm that no store bought cup can ever match. It carries the moment you realised you could shape something real with your own hands. We see this often in the studio. A beginner sits at the wheel with a mix of nerves and excitement. The clay spins. The walls rise. Then wobble. Then rise again. By the end of the...