FOUNDER
HANNAH YEADON
Hannah is a ceramic artist with 35 years’ experience of working with clay. She graduated from Camberwell School of Art in 1994, her tutors included Ewan Henderson, Gillian Lowndes and Richard Slee. She completed a MA in Ceramics with a distinction at Bath School of Art and Design in September 2018. ​ Her work has been exhibited nationally, including the Craft Council shop at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Scottish Gallery. Hannah has worked as a teacher and practitioner of Ceramics in Oxford since 1994 and has taught at schools, colleges, day centres, and hospitals, most recently at the Sunningwell School of Art. In 2022 she set up Oxford Clayhouse.
TUTOR
MAIA OTTENSTEIN
Maia is a ceramicist originally from Philadelphia, PA (USA) Fascinated with ceramic arts since childhood, Maia studied product design and worked professionally in design research for 10 years before transitioning to ceramics full-time. Maia mainly works on the wheel and enjoys creating interesting forms that convey both playfulness and elegance. She typically makes vases, bowls, and planters/large vessels, but also enjoys creating jars, mugs and saucers, and tea sets. www.maiarachel.com
TUTOR
PAM FOLEY
I am an artist working across figurative sculpture, painting and printmaking.With more than 30 years of experience teaching sculpture and ceramics — including both handbuilding and throwing — and extensive work as a workshop facilitator, I have been active in arts communities throughout my life.My limited‑edition figurative sculptures form a contemporary synthesis of traditional representations of the human form. These works are abstracted to evoke emotional states and lived experiences, often exploring themes of solitude and sorrow.I sculpt primarily in clay or plaster before casting in bronze metal, iron resin or marble resin.Prior to moving to the UK, I worked as a potter and ceramicist in San Francisco, USA, where I taught, maintained a studio, and ran a non‑profit women’s arts organisation with an accompanying gallery. Since relocating to the UK in 1999, I have continued my practice from my studio in Ore, Hastings.If you’d like, I can also shape this into a more formal artist bio, a shorter gallery‑ready version, or a more poetic statement for exhibitions.
TUTOR
CLARE O'LEARY
Clare is a ceramic artist, pottery teacher and youth worker. Graduating with a Batchelor of Arts in Craft Design at De Montfort University in 2014, she has taught in schools and colleges, including St Edwards School and Wolvercote Young Peoples Club, and currently works with The Parasol Project in the school holidays. ​Quirky yet functional, her troubled tureens comment on the peculiar food industry, with press moulded forms from factory waste, and bright colourful glazes. Exhibitions include New Designers, The Forge Culham, and Oxford Art Weeks. ​She loves the therapeutic quality of clay, the outdoor life, walking the dog on Port Meadow, and spending time on the allotment.
TUTOR
Etta Rain Ceramics
Rachel brings both technical expertise and a love for creative exploration Rachel is a visual artist with a background in photography and a deep passion for ceramics. She holds a Master’s Degree in Fine Art from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and spent many years working professionally as a photographer, specializing in traditional darkroom techniques. As the photography world shifted to digital, Rachel found herself longing for a more hands-on, tactile creative process. This led her to ceramics, where she has spent the past several years developing her skills in wheel-thrown pottery. She works with both wood-fired and electric kilns to create functional and unique pieces, including tea bowls, mugs, vases, and serving bowls. As an instructor, Rachel brings both technical expertise and a love for creative exploration. She’s passionate about sharing the meditative, rewarding experience of ceramics and helping others discover the joy of making with their hands. Etta Rain Ceramics www.ettarain.com
TUTOR
BETSY QUAKENBUSH
Betsy Quakenbush Ceramic artist and pottery teacher with over ten years of experience. Born and raised in the Philippines, Betsy’s first experience with clay began beside the river near her childhood home, where she discovered the joy of shaping local clay into simple forms. Her practice now includes both handbuilt and wheel‑thrown work, with a focus on sculptural detail and functional design. Betsy holds a minor in Studio Art from Calvin University (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and a Master of Public Health from Grand Valley State University. She began teaching pottery in 2018 and has since worked with students of all ages and levels. For seven years she taught at Pottery Lane, the largest pottery studio in Grand Rapids, where she enjoyed the lively exchange of ideas between studio artists and learners. Her teaching style is patient, encouraging and rooted in curiosity — helping students explore clay with confidence, whether they’re touching the material for the first time or developing an established practice. Teaching. Betsy currently teaches classes at Parkway Arts in Didcot, where she continues to share her passion for clay with a growing community of makers.