Maker Focus: Interlude Ceramics

Mary Chappelhow is a British potter working from a studio in Penrith, Cumbria. She uses a variety of stoneware and porcelain clays and a range of firing techniques to create decorative and functional tableware. Her colour palette is inspired by the Lakeland seasons.

Mary first saw a pot being made at school when she was nine years old and knew from that day she wanted to make pots. In 1997 she began a degree course at Cumbria College of Art & Design (now known as the University of Cumbria) and gained a first class honours degree in 2000. She then set up her business, Interlude Ceramics, a gallery and workshop at the Rheged Discovery Centre in Penrith.

During her time at Rheged she wrote a book about hand thrown pottery, entitled Thrown Pottery Techniques Revealed, as well as setting a Guinness World Record for the most pots thrown on the potter's wheel in an hour.

In 2007 Mary moved her business to a workshop without a gallery so she could have more time to concentrate on making ceramics, and in 2011 she joined forces with ceramic artist Gwen Bainbridge and opened a new studio at Brougham Hall, Penrith, a fortified 14th century house and a fantastic venue to visit. Here each artist creates their own very individual work, inspired by their surroundings, in their own workshops, but share a gallery area which is open to the public.

We are delighted to have Mary's Winter White collection available in the shop at Bonhoga Gallery.