Meet the maker

The Story Behind My Maker’s Mark

Every pot that leaves my studio carries my maker’s mark. To most people it may look like a simple design, but to me it is a small piece of my life, quietly pressed into the clay.

When I first began making pottery, I struggled with the idea of using my own initials. It felt too much like putting myself at the centre of the work. I’ve always believed that no one creates alone, so I wanted my mark to honour the people and places that made me the artist I am today.

The large R is inspired by the magnificent railway viaduct at Calstock, spanning the River Tamar. It was there, in a small studio at the old boatyard, that my journey as a ceramic artist and teacher truly began. Those early days were filled with experimentation, encouragement and the excitement of discovering what clay could become.

Beneath the viaduct, the sweeping curve represents the River Tamar, whose ever-changing tides have quietly shaped the landscape for centuries. Like the river, clay has taught me that strength and beauty often come through patience, persistence and time.

If you look closely, you’ll notice an upside-down T nestled within the design. To me, it is a small boat floating on the Tamar—a reminder of the boatyard where my pottery story first took root.

Hidden within the mark are the initials R.T. They belonged to my dad, who sadly died from cancer. Carrying his initials on every piece is my way of keeping a little part of him with me. Although he is no longer here, his encouragement and influence remain part of everything I create.

Finally, on the lower right of the T is a tiny J. That stands for my mum, Janet. If the boat represents the journey, then she has always been its engine and its tiller—the steady force keeping me moving forward, especially when the water has been rough.

So my maker’s mark is much more than a signature. It is a tribute to family, to the Tamar Valley, to where I first found my love of pottery, and to the people whose quiet support has carried me throughout my journey.

Every time you pick up one of my pots, you’re holding a small piece of that story too.