About me
This is me, Sophie Learmont, in my happy place – making ceramics in my studio in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.
A bit about me
With a background in architecture and design, I've taken my love of texture, form and detail to a smaller scale through ceramics.
From my starlingpots studio, I design and handcraft ceramic pieces in small batches, drawing inspiration from the natural world for decorative themes and colour palettes. I carefully choose slips and blend glazes to create depth, tactility and surface interest, always delighting in the joy of opening the kiln at the end of the process.
I make work of all scales and for a variety of uses – from bespoke pieces for recipe and magazine shoots to commissions for restaurants and cafés, as well as everyday ceramics designed for gifting and daily use. My work is available through my website, makers' markets, farm shops, art galleries, boutiques and pop-up events. I'm a member of London Potters and exhibit my work annually.
When I'm not in the studio, you'll usually find me dashing between children's clubs, squeezing in lunch with my very patient husband, or crafting and cooking with friends. I also spend a fair amount of time planning holidays – and luckily, we sometimes get to go on them too. We all love to travel.
A bit more about small-batch making
The beauty of small-batch making is that every piece is truly individual. It's an antidote to mass manufacturing. My dishes aren't perfectly round, and no two are ever exactly alike, which I think makes them all the more special.
I work primarily with porcelain and stoneware clays, chosen for their durability, natural beauty and tactile qualities. Each piece goes through many stages before it's finished. I begin with sketches, exploring both form and function, before moving into clay to test shape and structure.
The clay is prepared by wedging (excellent for arm muscles!), then rolled, shaped, cut and formed by hand. After drying slowly over the course of a week and being carefully checked, the pieces are ready for their first kiln firing at 998°C, a process that takes around 36 hours.
Once cooled, each piece is cleaned, sanded, decorated and glazed before returning to the kiln for a second firing at 1224°C.
Every stage brings its own challenges. I call this the "botheration factor" – those moments when things don't quite go to plan, which are all part of life as a maker. The reward, though, is opening the kiln to reveal a successful batch of newly glazed ceramics. It's a feeling that is full of joy.
Once the pieces have been unloaded, quality checked and packed ready for their next home, I'm usually back in the studio opening a fresh bag of clay and starting all over again.
Most of my work is food and dishwasher safe. Pieces featuring glass or 24-carat gold lustre are best washed by hand.
I love what I do, and I hope you'll enjoy my work as much as I enjoy making it.