Making clay from Bali to Bristol

Tucked away along an unassuming country lane in a beautiful rural location near Easter Compton is Hillside Studios. Designed as a collective creative space for artists and designers, there are a number of studios housed in contemporary wooden structures.

Working away busily in one of these is ceramicist Liz Vidal. She only moved into the small studio a month ago but already the space has a homey, lived-in feel about it. On one wall are shelves full of her ceramics, a mix of completed pieces and ones that are still drying.

At the back of the room is a large shelving unit with a number of plates set to dry and a space ready for a kiln that’s due to arrive soon.

Inside Liz’s studio near Easter Compton

Liz has already got the clay ready to go and starts kneading it, sipping a cup of tea from a beautiful teal mug imprinted with a leaf pattern. It’s one of her own designs, kept because it came out a bit wonky.

“This is called wedging,” she explains as she works the clay. “It’s basically getting all the clay the same consistency. I’m getting any air bubbles out. It’s kind of like kneading bread but almost the opposite because with dough you’re trying to put air into it.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBT3z7lyKln/?taken-by=lizvidalceramics

Liz’s love of ceramics began with a 3D design course. “You could do glass, metal, ceramics or wood,” she recalls. “I did a bit of metalwork in the first year and then went down the ceramics line. Since school, I’ve always been into ceramics; in its nature, it’s really therapeutic.”

While Liz is now settled in her Bristol studio, her craft has taken her around the world, notably working at Gaya Ceramic Art Centre in Bali for six months.

“It’s very different out there,” she remembers. “I was working barefoot, boiling hot. They use gas rather than electricity and wood firing, so that basically means you’re spending three days constantly feeding wood to the kiln to get it up to temperature.

“You have to do shift work. It was really, really good to see but you spend all your time patching up stuff. Things fall over, things crack, things get covered in soot. People who use wood fires know that it’s part of the process and they accept that.”

Liz with some of her recent collections, drying in her studio

Once the clay is ready, she cuts the clay into balls. Recently she’s been working with 800g balls of clay to make a set of plates for a restaurant in Devon. She’s worked with other restaurants in London, including Coya in Mayfair and Fera in Claridges. “I make sure I always get a free meal out of it!” she jokes.

Putting a lump on the wheel, Liz sits down and presses down the pedal, which works like a car accelerator.

Watching her work is hypnotic. In her hands, the clay transforms shape, and, with the ease of a seasoned professional, becomes a vase within a few minutes. Her work has an earthy, tactile feel to it and each piece is distinctly handmade and lovingly shaped.

Of course, Liz makes it look incredibly easy. Passing me an apron and towel for my lap, I have a go on the wheel and fail twice to throw the clay into the centre.

But, once it gets going, working with wet hands to sculpt the formless lump into something useful, I realise what she means by the process being therapeutic. Liz makes a brilliant teacher – she is calm, patient and encouraging

Keen to share her passion with others, Liz has been teaching pottery to children and adults since 2010. She holds five- or ten-week pottery courses, currently on Wednesdays, along with one-off workshops on Saturdays or Sundays.

The classes are catered for all abilities and occasions, with bespoke courses such as one-to-one sessions, parties, team building or date nights. They focus on hand building, wheel work and decorative techniques.

With a slightly wonky vase and bowl left drying on the shelf, to be fired later when her kiln arrives, it’s been a productive and refreshing morning with the talented artist.

To discuss private classes of up to four people, email liz.vidal@live.com or visit www.lizvidalceramics.com/classes-1 for further details about the classes. To keep track of her latest creations, follow Liz on Instagram via @lizvidalceramics

Read more: The art of the invisible