Helen Thornley – Ullswater Ceramics
2026 – Taking part in Potfest in the Pens – Penrith Autumn
Helen produces wheel-thrown pottery in the Eden Valley in Cumbria. As a keen swimmer and walker, she takes her inspiration from her favourite swimming spots in Ullswater and frequent trips to the Isle of Mull in Scotland. She draws different themes from each place. Around Ullswater, her goal is to develop glazes which capture the interplay of the water and sky. For Mull, it’s about capturing moments in time between the tides.
Helen works in a range of clays and styles. She enjoys making practical items for daily use in either iron-rich or white stoneware as well as more decorative, raku pieces inspired by times spent on the beaches of Mull. She particularly values the tactile nature of a finished pot, and aims to make pieces which are as pleasing to the hand as to the eye.