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We've said it before but we'll happily say it again - we think our Meet the Maker interviews are the perfect opportunity to take a break from whatever you are doing in your day, and sit down with a nice cup of tea in your favourite mug and hear about the journey of some of Bristol’s finest makers.
Today’s interviewee is perfect in that sense, as they are a maker of functional ceramics. Yes, mugs and tableware are Liz Vidal’s area of expertise. So, if you’re sitting comfortably, then we will begin…
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| Ceramacist at work: candleholder with some of the tools of Liz's trade |
Please can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your work?
Hi! I’m Liz and I create handmade, functional ceramics from my studio just north of Bristol. Most of my work is made on my pottery wheel and, alongside dinner-sets for homes, I produce tableware for restaurants in Bristol, London, Wales and Devon. My style is simple and organic – each piece is intended to be very tactile.
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| Calming colours of Liz Vidal's hand-thrown cups, saucers, bowls and vase. |
What do you love most about working in your chosen discipline?
I love that you never stop learning with Ceramics and I hope this will continue for my whole life. As with any ancient craft there is so much history and therefore infinite techniques and styles to explore.
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| Made on the potter's wheel, a little beaker by Liz Vidal Ceramics. |
What is currently your most popular creation?
I think mugs will always be a top-seller. I have a cupboard full of favourite mugs that I’ve collected from around the world and I choose each one depending on the type of tea, coffee, time of day etc. I love the idea that my pieces could form a part of someone else’s collection.
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| Breakfast in style with Liz Vidal's small and large bowls. |
What are some of your biggest creative influences or inspirations?
My Dad is a joiner and I always admired his ability to transform pieces of wood into functional and beautiful items with his hands. We grew up with a workbench in our tree house and I remember constantly trapping objects in the vice and pretending to work on them.
I’ve always been inspired by Sandy Brown – a British ceramicist known for her spontaneous, passionate use of clay and colours. Her work is made with a lot of energy and confidence - attributes that I am conscious to apply to my own practice.
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| Oh my glaze! Liz Vidal's cup is subtle but punctuated with colour. |
Describe your studio or workspace…
My studio is an old pigsty which seems as good a place as any to play with mud! I’m located at Hillside Studios, near Cribbs Causeway, with a view out towards the Severn Bridge and Wales. There are 7 other artists and lots of wildlife! I moved there in January 2018 and run various pottery workshops, both one-offs and weekly classes. It’s an incredibly calm space and I love driving out of the bustle of the city for a day’s work.
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| Surrounded by nature, Liz Vidal's pottery studio in North Bristol is a serene place to be creative. |
Tell us what your creative process is like. How do you go about designing a new piece?
I usually start with a shape in my head, sometimes I scribble this on the table or in my notebook. Then I weigh out a few balls of clay and begin to experiment with throwing. As the process of ceramics takes 2 to 3 weeks to complete it’s a slow process and it can sometimes take a few months to get something right, especially with new glazes.
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| Steady as we go, in the shelf lined studio - Liz's ceramic pieces typically take 2-3 weeks to make |
What are some of the biggest challenges in your work?
I think in ceramics it will always be pieces cracking or warping in the kiln. I have learnt not to be precious about particular items, and if something breaks I take a deep breath and start again. Patience is very, very important!
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| Shelfie: pots in process in Liz's studio |
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
I have a handmade pendant – a resin disc with a tiny tiger set into it – made by British jewellery maker Helen Noakes. I’ve cherished it, above all other possessions, for a decade now and I don’t see that changing.
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| Part of Liz's ceramic practice includes running workshops and classes for others. |
What do you when you are stuck in a creative rut?
Luckily my studio is surrounded by woods and fields so I can take myself off for a walk if I’m procrastinating too much. Otherwise I sit at my wheel and start making without anything in mind, letting my hands do the work without thinking too much.
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| Handcrafted detail in Liz's ceramics studio |
Where would you like to be in ten years?
Still making pots and still teaching! When I lived in London I worked with various community groups and I would love to do similar projects in Bristol. I’d also love to go down the sculptural route one day and have the opportunity to make a large installation.
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You can also see Liz’s pieces featured in our first ever Made in Bristol Designer-Maker Gift Guide.
Photography thanks:
Products by Jo Hounsome Photography.
Studio shots courtesy of Liz Vidal.
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