Hello! I'm Jackie Hunter, a ceramic artist based in East Lothian, Scotland, specialising in handbuilt porcelain pottery inspired by the sea.

I first started making pottery at evening classes at the Poldrate Arts & Crafts Center in Haddington several years ago, and quickly fell in love with it.  Many potters comment that working with clay feels like play, and talk about its meditative qualities, and it's all true. I was hooked, and fast-forwarding to today, I now create my ocean-themed pieces in my own little studio near the sea in Cockenzie.

My process
I am a hand-builder, shaping each piece individually rather than using a wheel, and letting the clay guide me as I build. I work primarily with paper porcelain clay. Fibres within the clay provide extra strength during the making process, allowing me to create pieces that are very delicate yet strong. The fibres burn out in the kiln, leaving a beautiful fine porcelain ready to be glazed. 

Working with porcelain involves a degree of wonderful unpredictability. Thin pieces can shift and settle into new shapes during high-temperature kiln firings, and glazes may react and combine in unexpected ways, resulting in unique effects. 

My work
East Lothian has no shortage of gorgeous beaches, and my work draws inspiration from the rugged and ever-changing beauty of the coast — think rippling waves, sea shells, urchins, or the textures found in the sand.  I love creating pieces that contrast raw, unglazed, textured exteriors with smooth, glossy interiors, resulting in tactile pots that feel great to hold.