Alison West Ceramics Saggarfired Ceramic Art
Unglazed Ceramic Art and Tableware
Vessels decorated by firing with natural materials from Dartmoor
Saggarfired Ceramic Art and local clay slipware
Local Clay Slipware
Pottery Courses/Workshops
Pottery Courses/Workshops
I start by gathering wild clay from Dartmoor and soaking it in water for a week, allowing the clay particles to soften and disperse. This step helps me to strain the clay through a fine mesh, which effectively filters out impurities like roots and leaves. After sieving, I further refine the clay into a smooth, fine slip known as terrasigi
I start by gathering wild clay from Dartmoor and soaking it in water for a week, allowing the clay particles to soften and disperse. This step helps me to strain the clay through a fine mesh, which effectively filters out impurities like roots and leaves. After sieving, I further refine the clay into a smooth, fine slip known as terrasigillata. This slip is sprayed in layers onto the piece, resulting in a polished, glossy finish that enhances the inherent beauty of Dartmoor's clay. To complete the process, I apply a clear or opaque white glaze, allowing the rich hues of the terra sigillata to emerge.
FEATURED POTTER IN ARTISANS OF DARTMOOR BOOK
Dartmoor Artisans Trail
By Suzy Bennett
Blacksmiths and basketmakers, plant dyers and potters, woodturners and weavers – Dartmoor National Park in Devon is home to a thriving community of artisans. Through atmospheric photography and compelling interviews, this book invites you behind the workshop walls to meet 16 inspiring craftspeople who are breathing new life into some of Britain’s oldest and rarest trades. An antidote to a world of mass production, the stories in these pages celebrate the local and original, the ethical and sustainable, the handmade and human.
HARDBACK BOOK HITS THE SHOPS IN SEPTEMBER 2025, BUT YOU CAN BUY AN ‘EARLY BIRD’ COPY HERE WITH £5 OFF FOR DELIVERY IN EARLY JULY
“Suzy Bennett has given us a gift with this book. The craft movement on Dartmoor is thriving, making it a very special region within the UK and something to be cherished. Through Suzy’s meticulous research and evocative storytelling, she has not only captured beautiful images of the moor’s craftspeople, but also their voices, philosophies and dreams.”
– DANIEL CARPENTER
Executive Director, Heritage Crafts
“These are stories of hope, joy, purpose and love of place – as invigorating as a wild plunge in a Dartmoor stream. If you’re only half as obsessed as I am by humankind’s ability to create purposeful objects from natural materials, you will treasure these pages. The stories of the artisans in this beautiful book are among the most vital and alive you will ever read and make the compelling case that heritage skills deserve to be protected.”
– LUCY SIEGLE
Environmental journalist
“This is a stunning book and a heartfelt tribute to the artisans of Dartmoor, with each photograph capturing the spirit, dedication, and quiet brilliance of these creative souls. Flick through the pages and I guarantee you will also start dreaming about giving up your day job to weave, dye, potter, hammer or chisel. Through her lens, Suzy preserves the stories of Dartmoor’s artisans, but also reminds us of the vital importance of sustaining traditional crafts in this unique, beautiful and inspiring landscape.”
– SIMON REEVE
Author and television presenter
“A book that not only celebrates the beauty and resilience of modern craft, but is a gorgeously crafted object in its own right.”
– SALLY COULTHARD
Author of Crafted
“Artisans of Dartmoor is a truly uplifting and life-affirming book that celebrates the energy and spirit of one of Britain’s most creative regions. Packed with beautiful photography and stories of craftspeople who are living the dream, it’s a must-read for anyone seeking an inspired life.”
– SARAH JAMES, MBE
Director, Craft Festival
“This unique and beautiful book illustrates the richness, diversity and energy of our vibrant local craft scene and tells the stories of how craft connects us with our geography, culture, history and soul. There has never been a better time – or place – to be a maker, buyer or collector.
– FLORA PEARSON
MAKE Southwest, Dartmoor
“Suzy Bennett has exquisitely revealed a vibrancy of craft and locality that not long ago seemed doomed to disappear forever. Redolent with the sounds, smells, and textures of Dartmoor, this book brings to life the alchemical transformation of local materials into objects of beauty and purpose.”
– NICK KARY
Author of Material: Making and the Art of Transformation
“A wonderful book that captures the essential humanity of craft and the intricate knowledge that makers have of their raw materials. It inspires us to buy possessions that we will treasure, chiming perfectly with my own business philosophy.”
– GEETIE SINGH-WATSON, MBE
Ethical entrepreneur
“This book is a truly beautiful insight into the world of traditional craft. The exquisite portraits and processes that Suzy has captured immerse readers into the lives of an extraordinary collection of Dartmoor artisans. This is an intimate illustration of their unique stories and remarkable skills.”
– JODI LOU PARKIN
Owner of Craftmongers, DartmoorARTISANS OF DARTMOOR
JANUARY 2023 PERIOD LIVING MAGAZINE CRAFT FEATURE - photos/editorial Suzy Bennett (@suzybennett.photography)
