My first meaningful contact with clay started with pottery evening classes in 1989. I had just graduated from a fine art degree in Bath and had a strong desire to make mugs; perhaps the humblest yet most functional of ceramic objects.
After fifteen years and countless evening classes I realised that I wanted more and found myself chatting to Rupert Spira at Chelsea Craft Fair about the possibility of becoming his apprentice. In due course I moved to Shropshire and trained with Rupert for two years. During that time I met James who had arrived also to learn about pottery. We realised that we had a huge amount in common. He had also studied painting (at the Slade); we had both taught TEFL; we were both into music, gardening etc. and of course we both had aspirations to become potters. Our apprenticeships gave us a narrow but deep training - a foundation from which we continue to find our personal, collective voice.
In 2002 we started making pots in our own workshop. Our collaboration has evolved so that now only James throws but I am very much involved in the making process and am wholly responsible for the decoration. Working together is easy as we trained together and our strengths tend to complement each other.
Our work has developed a lot since 2002 and in 2006 we were delighted to be selected for several prestigious events including Made in the Middle (Craftspace) and Origin (Crafts Council).
Tilla Waters