Ailsa Ferrier – Roadside Picnic Ceramics
2026- Taking part in Potfest in the Pens Spring (Penrith) and Potfest Scotland- Scone Palace
Ailsa Ferrier is a Edinburgh based potter who makes work under the name Roadside Picnic Ceramics.
I initially trained as a contemporary sculptor in London and after more than a decade working in the film industry I returned to the medium of ceramics. My work is informed by a fine art training but is determinedly practical, aiming towards a natural relationship of versatility and beauty. I mostly make homeware for everyday use, using a unique blend of clay and my own glazes. I take inspiration in form and tone from a blend of styles; from clean contemporary lines, midcentury Scandinavian design, to more elaborate and fanciful French Baroque style.
As well as continuing to experiment and develop my work, I do commissions for cafes, shops and individuals, as well as more sculptural handmade pieces and Raku.
I also work as a production potter for a ceramics company in Midlothian. I was a member of Edinburgh Ceramics Workshop for three years before co-founding Portland Street Pottery in Leith in the summer of 2024.