I trained as a dancer from an early age and was fortunate enough to dance with Ballet Rambert for eleven years. My love of pottery developed after I left the company and moved to Dawlish in Devon to bring up my young family.
In Devon I became a dance lecturer at Dartington College which brought me into contact with many arts and crafts, including pottery. Whilst in Devon I did a few classes with a local potter and later when he retired I bought all his equipment: kiln, wheel, tools, glazes, clay etc. I set it up in my garage and taught myself to make pots. At this stage I had a craft shop .... a ready outlet in which to sell my pots, and to discover which designs sold well. Soon I had acquired an agent who started selling my pots to other shops.
Following successful orders secured by my agent, I began to sell my pottery through trade fairs. My first trade fair was the Torquay Trade Fair. The fair was a huge success and I was inundated with orders.
Unexpectedly, I moved to London along with my pottery equipment, which I installed in a small industrial unit in Greenwich. Over the next seven years Millbrook Pottery (a trade name chosen whilst still in Dawlish) went from strength to strength, culminating in the need to employ six potters to cope with the demand as well as renting a huge studio space. During that period Millbrook Pottery was sold all over the world to approximately 350 retail outlets.
Now in my 80’s I have a small studio in my garden in Beckenham where I continue to enjoy making pottery on a small scale which I enjoy selling at exhibitions, craft fairs and a limited number of shops and galleries. My pottery has also sold at Bonham’s contemporary ceramics auctions.
I am a member of London Potters Association, an Associate member of Craft Potters Association and a member of Kent Potters Association.