Suffolk in the City ceramics

The Society is looking ahead to our second appearance at London Craft Week. Once again hosted by Patron Trevor Pickett, the exhibition will present a carefully selected group of makers, bringing outstanding Suffolk craftsmanship to a London audience. This year’s presentation includes a strong group of ceramicists: 

 

Moira Goodall creates individual, hand-built vessels inspired by the coastal landscape surrounding her studio. Drawing on the colours, light and textures of river and salt marsh, her work combines contemporary form with ancient firing techniques. Using flattened coils, slips and burnishing, each piece is finished through a secondary sawdust and smoke firing. This unpredictable process introduces an element of chance, with Moira seeking a balance between controlled design and the spontaneous effects of fire. 

 

Neville Tatham, originally from Durham, trained in 3D Design at Manchester Metropolitan University and has since developed a practice rooted in traditional slipware. Now working from his Essex studio, he produces functional ceramics using locally sourced clays fired at lower temperatures. Inspired by historic rural pottery, his hand-thrown forms reveal the character of their materials, with slip-trailed decoration and subtle variations in glaze creating depth and texture. 

 

Janene Waudby draws deeply on her connection to the sea and wild coastal environments of the British Isles. Her ceramics, whether thrown or hand-built, are shaped through processes that embrace unpredictability, including fire and surface marking. Having spent years travelling and working at sea, her practice reflects a lifelong engagement with nature, resulting in work that feels both elemental and collaborative with its surroundings. 

 

Marie Coomber, a self-taught ceramicist based in the Stour Valley, creates wheel-thrown pieces in speckled stoneware. Her work explores the contrast between raw clay and smooth glaze, often leaving areas exposed to highlight the tactile qualities of the material. Inspired by landscapes from Suffolk, South West France and her native Germany, her forms and colours bring a sense of place to functional ceramics designed to elevate everyday use. 

 

Claire Pirie, a Suffolk-based potter originally from Ayrshire, specialises in thrown porcelain vessels. Her work focuses on form, function and the tactile qualities of the material, with pared-back glazing that allows the purity of the clay to remain visible. Calm and understated, her pieces are designed to complement their use, whether holding flowers, serving food or casting light, with an emphasis on quiet refinement. 

 

Anne Mare Jacobs creates decorative ceramics inspired by the Essex salt marsh landscape surrounding her home on Mersea Island. Her slip-cast earthenware pieces reflect both the beauty and vulnerability of this environment, balancing themes of strength and fragility. Through carefully developed glazes, textures and forms, her work captures the shifting character of the marsh while maintaining a strong conceptual and technical foundation. 

 

Suffolk in the City 2026 returns to London Craft Week this May, curated by Trevor Pickett. Showcasing a diverse selection of Suffolk Craft Society members, the exhibition highlights the region’s exceptional skill, creativity and contemporary craft practice. From traditional techniques to innovative approaches, it offers a compelling snapshot of a thriving creative community.