Fleen
Potter
Following her ceramics degree and 3 year apprenticeship in wood-fired saltglaze pottery, Fleen and her partner settled in the Forest of Dean in 2013. She was drawn to the natural beauty of the area and the abundance of outdoor space to enjoy and begin her family. Fleen quickly established a pottery workshop, which made use of reclaimed, recycled and locally sourced materials as well as a beautiful sedum roof. Alongside her successful business, she runs a busy family home with children, chickens, a dog, and a garden full of home grown produce. Fleen comes from a family of menders, makers and organic small-holders and has a strong interest in permeculture.
Fleen has two ranges of pots; hand-thrown porcelain andwood-fired saltglaze, both of which are made to be used and enjoyed in the kitchen and home. Fired to stoneware the pots are durable and intended for daily use.
For Fleen’s saltglaze range, she throws pots on the wheel, as well as constructing them from folded slabs of clay. Patterns are impressed using wooden and clay stamps. The process of packing and firing the wood-fired saltglaze kiln is well considered, however the results cannot be completely controlled...the wood varies in each firing and even the weather has an effect! The nature and joy of wood-firing is that each firing is slightly different, making the surface of each pot unique.
For Fleen’s porcelain range she uses beautiful clay - soft white in colour that gives the glazes a pure and fresh look. These elegant pots look great in the kitchen and on the table, making simple food look deliciously sophisticated.
Fleen sells her work to shops and galleries, through her online shop and has been exhibiting her work in prestigious selected shows for several years. These include: Art in Clay and Earth and fire. She has spoken at conferences in the UK and Denmark and was a trustee for ‘Adopt a Potter’ charitable trust for 5 years.
Alongside her own making, Fleen loves sharing her skills through classes and workshops. She has taught Saturday workshops at the Downs School in Malvern as well as teaching evening classes to adults in Ledbury.
Fleen has always been a maker, with particular interest in craft. She has a broad foundation of skills acquired during her BTECH in Art and Design, specialising in three dimensional design. At University in Cardiff she studied BA Ceramics, and spent her time throwing pots, building kilns and spent many an evening deep in glaze technology. Her dissertation in ‘Environmental sustainability within ceramic practice’ earned her a triple distinction. The day Fleen took down her degree show she moved to Bridge Pottery, Gower where she did her apprenticeship in wood-fired saltglaze with revered master potter Micki Schloessingk. Following her apprenticeship Fleen travelled around South India visiting women potters wood-firing and saltglazing and learned much along her way.
