Jen Leake Ceramicist

After studying History of Art at university I started a short career in Museum curatorship and then a very long one in the corporate world of marketing.

Whilst bringing up my family I studied and became printmaker. Then after an adult education course in ceramics, my love of everything pottery grew.

I primarily hand build my ceramics as this always gives each piece a sense of uniqueness. I am influenced by the colour and form of traditional folk art and Scandinavian Lino printing. I include that in my plates and vases.

My quirky smiling creatures – nicknamed Doobry whatsits – develop daily: I love playing with their form by adding a tail or a set of teeth or some lumps and bumps. Then it’s onto experimenting with glazes – the brighter the better! Hopefully resulting in a funny, tactile, joyful creature.