“Ceramics just came naturally to me, I was encouraged by my parents to do art as a child.”
– Hannah
It’s always been in our philosophy to support those around us, specifically our fellow businesses based and started in and around Bristol. We’d like to introduce to you the wonderful Hannah Turner, creator of stunning, fun and unique ceramic – Hannah began her ceramics business after a sell out degree show at Bristol university and never looked back. We love how close we work with our suppliers and adore sharing this with all our lovely customers, so for our first ever meet the makers blog, I got to know Hannah a little bit better and delved deep into her motivations and design processes when creating new ranges of gorgeous ceramics.
The unique designs Hannah produces are really what makes her ceramics so special, each design is lovingly hand created and crafted before it reaches customers and as Hannah says – each beautiful design is her baby. So to delve further into Hannah’s wonderful design process I asked her about her inspirations and influences for all her lovely designs – the influence taken from nature can really be seen in each of her beautiful designs.
Where do you get your inspiration for your designs?
This comes from many sources, sometimes a junk shop find, often looking online at vintage ceramic designs, or in the case of my most recent Moth collection it is wanting to reflect the natural world, observed in nature either my garden or on walks. I also want to create products that draw attention to issues with bio diversity and animal welfare, so with the Puffins, I was prompted when I found out they were endangered, and some of our sales go towards conservation on several of our products.
I read on your website about your interest in sustainability and conservation, has this always been a big thing for you when developing your business?
Yes it has, I don’t want to cause damage, the natural world has always been my inspiration, so I feel very strongly that we need to look after it!
Are there particular illustrators and designers which influence you, or ones you like?
I love Stig Lindberg’s ceramics, and Lisa Larson, both Swedish ceramic designers. Also Midwinter pottery designed in the 50s and 60s by Susie Cooper and Jessie Tait. Illustrators that inspire me are Charlie Harper and Miroslav Sasek, I love the textiles by Tammis Keefe.
Image features Hannah offsetting her carbon footprint from her trips to Sri Lanka by planting trees.
Hannah’s talent and creativity really flows through all her ceramics, her love of nature makes all her ceramics real winners. Hannah works extremely closely with her team in Sri Lanka, providing her skilled workers with a fair wage and benefits such as cost price food and household goods, access to medical services, regular training and a policy of promoting women into management.
What got you into ceramics?
I did an art foundation course in Swindon, and I liked ceramics the best. I also had a great tutor who was very enthusiastic!
Who/what were your biggest influences growing up and have you always had a love for ceramics?
Ceramics just came naturally to me, I was encouraged by my parents to do art as a child, and my Dad has always been very immersed in the natural world so that was a big influence. What I love about clay is that it can become anything! You can add and take away, mistakes can be rectified (within reason) and a fired glazed object has something very precious about it.
Image features Hannah hard at work in her studio creating her birdlife collection, click here to view online now.
With each ceramic brimming with imagination and curiosity it was no surprise to find out about Hannah’s wonderfully artistic background in all things arty. Here at Fig1 we are also big lovers of sustainability, providing our customers with high quality, sustainably made products is of great importance to us.
What is your process when designing new products and how do you go about developing new designs?
I start with sourcing images and doing sketches, some from observation as with the dogs, but a lot sourced online in places such as Pinterest. I then just start modelling if it is a sculptural design, often doing a bit at a time and coming back to it often to re-evaluate what I have modelled. If it’s 2 dimension art, then I work in my sketchbook a lot and sometimes scan what I have sketched and use that as a starting point.
What is your favourite design you have created and why?
I still love my flying Toucans for the wall, but I don’t really have 1 favourite, they are all my babies!
Each of Hannah’s designs are made with love, the work and creativity overflows with each piece and we just love them! Thank you Hannah for providing us a lovely insight into your world.
