My first pottery class was in Eastleigh, Hampshire about 30 years ago and I have been making pottery, on and off, ever since. When I moved back to Norwich in 1984, I attended pottery classes and found I much preferred hand modelling to the wheel. I eventually bought a hobby kiln so I could experiment at home and originally I hand built clocks decorating them with owls, mice, penguins etc and these sold well at craft fairs. However, for several years now I have been modelling wildlife including fish and some domestic animals such as pigs and dogs.

I now work mainly in stoneware clay using a coarse grogged body and a smoother clay depending on the effect I wish to attain. I prefer to use oxides to colour my models as I believe this gives a more natural finish, although I do also use a few matt glazes.

I find inspiration in animal and bird magazines, television wildlife programmes and through bird watching which I enjoy. I usually model each item from a solid piece of clay, hollowing it out at leather hard stage. When the model is completely dry it is then 'biscuit' fired, following which it is coloured and then finally fired at a much higher temperature. I try to capture the movement and expression of each subject without being too cute or twee. Being frost proof, my larger models of grebes and ducks can be placed outside.

Contact Jane at
Email jane.claycreations@gmail.com