I’m delighted to tell you I will be taking part in the King House Christmas Craft Fair this coming weekend. It's not too far from where I'm from so hopefully there'll be lots of familiar faces.

Now an annual event in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, it will be a full of festive cheer. There will be 50 stands for you to visit and shop for presents from, along with live music and dance performances on both days. The doors open on Friday evening if you want to pop in after work and on Saturday.

Opening hours: Fri 29th Nov 5pm - 9pm, Sat 30th Nov 10am - 5pm

Entry is free and all are welcome.

More information about the fair can be found on the King House website here.

I’m looking forward to my first fair after moving back to Ireland. The Glucksman Craft + Design Fair is one of Ireland’s leading fairs. Held in the spacious and bright gallery, there will be a selection of Irish makers and craft - textiles, jewellery, print, ceramics, stationary, furniture, glass and woodturning.

Friday 8th Nov 1 - 7pm

Saturday 9th Nov 10am - 6pm

Sunday 10th Nov 11am - 5pm

There is a €5 entry fee which goes towardsteh gallery’s outreach programmes.

Tutton & Young are proud to hold their third Open exhibition this summer at Atelier beside the Sea, Brighton. There will be 280 pieces from 150 artists and makers from around the country. This is an open themed exhibition and will have a wide mix of paintings, prints, collages, pottery, ceramics, textiles and more. The exhibition will definitely have the T&Y stamp of quality and quirky imagination.

I'm delighted to have four of my Willow Vegetable vessels included in the exhibition - Willow Tomates, Willow Pea, Willow Beans and Willow Fragment. The collection of vessels are inspired by the vegetables I grow on my allotment and the fragments of blue and white pottery found while digging over the earth. The forms are inspired by a Spode vase. The patterns are created using inlay, sgraffito and paper resist decorating techniques. Each one is a one-off.

The exhibition runs for six weeks over the summer giving you plenty of time to visit it. If you can’t visit the gallery in person, the show is available to see on their website here.

Potfest South West – Shaftesbury is the newest pottery and ceramics fair in the Potfest calendar. Only a stone’s throw away from Salisbury, it will be great to do a large show near home.

This is one of the leading pottery and ceramic shows in the country, with makers from all parts of their career travelling far and wide to be part of the show. I’m very happy to be part of it again. If you’d like to find out more information about the show and who else will be there, have a look at their website HERE.

Potfest always has a fantastic variety of pots and ceramics, and really shows all of the possibilities of what can be made from clay. Located between Shaftesbury and Gillingham in north Dorset, the show is easy to get to by car and train. There is free parking at the show and a free shuttle bus from Gillingham train station.

Every year, there’s a Potter’s Competition. This year’s theme is Hybrid and I have my thinking cap on for what to make for it.

A last-minute addition to my calendar, I’m now taking part at Craft Festival Bovey Tracey this June. I will be joining the makers of Design Nation in their tent. The festival is celebrating 20 years this year and it’s looking like the show will be better than ever. One of Britain’s leading craft shows, it has a fantastic reputation amongst makers, craftspeople, galleries and collectors.

With over 100 exceptionally skilled and imaginative makers in a wide variety of materials and techniques, there will be lots to see and do. There will also be demonstrations, workshops and stands selling making materials such as paint and wool, this is not to be missed. To see the full list of makers, stands, workshops and more, visit their website here. You can also buy tickets for the show here or on the day.

I will be bringing a selection of my Fields and Willow Vegetable Collections, including some new designs and pieces.

Hooray, I’m going to Potfest. Returning for its third year at Glynde Place, Potfest is one of the leading pottery and ceramic shows in the country, with makers travelling far and wide to be part of the show. I’m very happy to be part of it again. If you’d like to find out more information about the show and who else will be there, have a look at their website HERE.

Potfest always has a fantastic variety of pots and ceramics, and really shows all of the possibilities of what can be made from clay. Located near Lewes in East Sussex, the show is easy to get to by car and train. There is a free shuttle bus from Glynde Station.

Every year, there’s a Potter’s Competition. I’m looking forward to finding out what this year’s theme will be and stepping out of my creative comfort zone. Last time, my pieces developed into a new and growing collection which I’ll be bringing with me.

I’m delighted to be returning to Cheltenham in the spring, my first show of the year. Organised by the people who bring you Craft Festival Bovey Tracey and Find a Maker, the show has a fantastic reputation. It brings together some of the best craftspeople from around the country. Shop handmade and unique pieces in Cheltenham Town Hall, only a few minutes’ walk from the centre of town.

There will be a variety of contemporary craft, jewellery, textiles, prints and of course, pottery. With 100 makers and demonstrations and workshops too, you could spend the whole day with us. You can find the full list of exhibitors here.

I’m stocking up on my Fields Collection at the moment with posy vases, mugs and bowls going through the kiln in the next couple of months. Hopefully there will be a few new Willow Vegetable vessels with me too.

You’ll find me in the StartUp area.

The fair is easy to get to by train, bus and car with a car park just a five-minute walk away. There is a café on site with lots of options nearby too. Tickets can be bought on the door or pre-booked on the website here.

December is coming which means it’s time for Julie Ayton’s Christmas Open Studio.

It’s nice to be back on home ground after a busy couple of weekends away, especially as this is where I did my year-long apprenticeship. This is always fun and a joy to do. For those of you who have been before, you’ll know how relaxed and cosy Julie’s Open Studio can be. We will have our traditional mulled wine and mice pies waiting for you when you arrive and to enjoy while you indulge yourself on locally made handmade pottery plus more.

There will be decorated porcelain and stoneware inspired by nature by Julie Ayton; geometric patterned textiles made from natural fibres by Clare Lewis; agriculturally inspired decorated stoneware by myself, plus stock fillers; hand printed and stitched books by bookbinder Tamsin Loveday; and last but not least vibrant and patterned terracotta by Jonathan Garratt.

After the disappointment for having to cancel my place at the live Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester, I’m very happy to be included in GNCCFonline this December. It will great to take part in the online version of this renowned craft fair. It is just in time to get your Christmas presents ordered too. Enjoy exploring, learning about and buying from highly skilled makers from the comfort of your home. There will be a mix of ceramics, textiles, wood, jewellery and prints.

I will be including a selection of my Fields and Willow Vegetable Collections, along with a few exclusive pieces just for the show including some festive tealight holders.

You can see all the makers taking part on the GNCCF website here. The website listings will remain open until the end of December for when you decide you can’t live without that one of a kind handmade mug or vase.

MADE Brighton is back in the Brighton Dome - Corn Exchange for the first time in six years. I’m really looking forward to being part of the first show since its renovation.

The opening times are:

Private View - Thurs 23rd Nov, 6pm - 8pm
Fri 24th - Sat 25th Nov, 10:30am - 5:30pm
Sun 26th Nov, 10:30am - 5pm

Early bird tickets are £5 until Nov 5th and then £7 online (here) or £8 on the door.

The fair will have some of the best, most exciting and innovative makers from around the country. It’s a great place to do your Christmas shopping in, especially if you love handmade gifts and want to support independent makers. I will have a slection of my handmade and individually decorated stoneware pots for you to buy.

The venue will have cafes and restaurants so you won’t have to go far for tea and cake when you want to mull over that special purchase.

The list of makers can be on the website here.

In a ‘last minute’ development, I’m going to Craft Festival Cheltenham at Christmas, hooray! The festival is organised by The Craft Festival, who are the who created the Find a Maker directory (aka Family).

A smaller show than the summer festival at Bovey Tracey, the quality of work is equally as amazing, contemporary and creative.

There will be lots to see and do, with over 11 different mediums including textiles, leatherwork, glass and of course ceramics. There will be nearly 90 independent makers with a few demonstrators and workshops too; you can find the full list on their website here.

You’ll find me at Stand 12.

The fair will be located in in Cheltenham Town Hall in the centre of the town. It is easy to get to by train, bus and car with a car park just a five-minute walk away. There is a café on site with lots of options nearby too. Tickets can be bought on the door or pre-booked on the website.

This is a fantastic place to buy your handmade Christmas presents for your friends and family. Make sure to add it on your calendar so you don’t miss out.

It is with disappointment I am not longer able to take part in GNCCF. I unfortunately injuried myself recently and will not be healed enough in time for the fair.

I’m delighted to be selected for the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Victoria Baths, Manchester. This relatively new show has an impressive selection of 150 of the finest makers from around the country. The imagination in design and quality of making skills … There will be a mix of makers from all levels of their career, from those just starting out like myself to established and renowned makers of their materials.

Some makers will be demonstrating their making techniques at their stand or table, including myself. Come see me to see how I create my willow vegetable patterns.

Have a look at their website to find out more about the organisers. You can see all the incredibly skilled exhibitors here.

Due to unforseen events, I unfortunately have to postpone my Grand Opening Open Studio for this year. I hope to reorganise it for some other time in the future.

Join me at my new studio in Cranbourne Chase AONB, Dorset for my celebratory Open Studio. I’m throwing open my doors for the weekend and welcoming visitors in. So many of you have asked to come and see the place, it made sense to make an event of it. I will have a display of my work for you to admire and adorn and even to take home with you if you become tempted.

There will be tea, cordial and homemade cake waiting for you when you arrive. So why not bring a friend and come for a break away to the peaceful countryside?

The doors will be open from 10am to 5pm on both days.

Tutton & Young is having their second Atelier Open exhibition this summer. With 280 pieces from 150 artists and makers, this show will definitely have the T&Y stamp of quality and imagination. I'm delighted to have a selection of my Willow Vegetable vases as part of it. The show runs for 6 weeks through the summer so plenty of time to visit it.

As Atelier is celebrating their second birthday, they are offering 15% off to their newsletter subscribers until July 17th. You can sign up on the website. And as part of the Open, visitors can vote for their favourite piece. I hope you can see the show and vote for me (did I really say that?).

If you can't make it to the show, it'll be on their website from 6pm on Thursday 13th July.

I’m starting off the year with an exhibition, RAW, in Arteria, Lancaster. With a large selection of different art and craft mediums, this is a show not to be missed; paintings prints, paper sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, wood and more; Other artists and makers include Louise Ellwood-Parker, Kaper - Kate Kelly and Pink House Studio to name a just a few. There is a selection of my Fields range as part of the show: mugs, bowls, caddies and more.

RAW is about ‘‘re-connecting with nature and will be a reflection of our connection with the earth. Organic repetition, raw textures, natural materials and earthy tones will be a focus of the handmade works.’’

So if you're in the area, or know someone who might be, why not pop in and have a look. The show begins on February 2nd and will run until May, date to be confirmed.

A tradition for me now, the time is coming for Julie Ayton’s annual Christmas Studio in Salisbury. It’s a show I enjoy every time as it’s where my time as a potter in Salisbury began.

As ever we will have a creative and colourful selection of handmade pieces for you to buy as presents (of which some can be for yourself). Julie has invited several friends this year with a mix of mediums. There will be patterned stoneware pottery from Julie and myself, softly smoke-fired ceramics by Frances Marr, colourful paintings from Patsy Fraser and willow baskets from Jo Mills which have such a homely feel to them.

As tradition follows, there’ll be mulled wine and minced pies galore. Oh I can’t wait for it and to catch up with you all over the weekend.

I’m excited to be showing at Tutton & Young’s MADE Brighton again this year. I really enjoyed it last year; meeting new customers and friends and . It’s an amazing space, which will be filled with a cornicopia of handmade colourful and unique pieces for you to find your Christmas shopping at. Theres is as always be an amazing collection of makers and designers who use a combination of traditional and contemporary craft skills. The imagination and creativity of the Tutton & Young makers are eceptional.

I will be bringing my new Fields collection to the show; along with pieces from my Linear range and a few festive items, tea light holders and Christmas decorations.

Check out their website to see all of the exhibitors and their work.

A new and exciting show in the Potfest calendar. Potfest in the Pens Melton Mowbray is a down-to-earth show in the characterful and charming location of the town’s agricultural market. The show brings together 100 potters and ceramic artists displaying and selling a cornucopia of colour, style, function and lots more to explore and buy.

The list of exhibitors, a fantastic mix of established and up-and-coming makers is on their website here, just select Melton Mowbray in the filter option. Why not tick off those Christmas presents off your list?

As part of all of the shows, each year the organisers have a potter’s competition based on a theme. This year it’s ‘Rooted in the past, planted in the present’. I’ve plans for what my piece will be and looking forward to making it.  

Times: 3pm -7pm Fri, 9am – 4pm Sat & Sun

Tickets are just £4 a day or £7 for the whole weekend if you’re eager. Tickets can be bought at the door or in advance from their website.

I’ve been asked by the farm’s owner to join her and other artists at Wick Farm for this year’s Somerset Art Weeks. With this year’s theme of ‘Sanctuary’, a selection of my ceramic bird feeders will be hung somewhere on the land among the trees. They’ll be glazed in a variety of colours and textures which is part of my joy of making them; it’s a splash of fun. There’ll be a map to help you find them and all of the other artwork around the farm.

As an artists’ residence, the property, farm and land are used as inspiration; and it expresses the owners love of colour, pattern and nature. I’m really looking forward to seeing it in real life. I’ll be there for most of the first weekend so please come visit.

This two-day throwing workshop is all about making lidded pots on the potter’s wheel. Suitable for intermediate to advanced throwers, you will learn. On the first day you be throwing the pots and a selection of the different types of lids. The second day will be focused on turning your pieces and if there’s time at the end of the day, decorating them.

Materials are included in the cost of the course but firing costs are not. You can choose to take your pots away on the day, have them fired and return to glaze them yourself on a future course or use them as practice and reclaim the clay.

Course fee: £220

To book into the course please follow the link here.