Coxwold Pottery

Peter Dick worked with Michael Cardew in Nigeria then with Ray Finch at the Winchcombe Pottery in the Cotswolds. An article by Peter, reminiscing on his experiences in Abuja with other background information, appeared in 'Interpreting Ceramics', Issue 3. A valuable 'family tree' of potters shows his relationship to these potters. His distinctive style of potting and decoration was well-recognised and shown in many exhibitions, for example the Craft Council Domestic Pottery year-long touring exhibition round the UK. As well, a number of Museums and public collections have Peter Dick pots. For example, the City of York Art Gallery 'Centre for Ceramic Art' (CoCA) records having 46 pieces of pottery by Peter Dick, 23 of these from the W. A. Ismay collection. A speciality became the making of large commemorative plates, these were often commissioned by customers to celebrate family events.) and the Northern Potters Association (of which he was a founder member.) Jill Frances Dick (née Smith) was an artist and noted potter in her own right. Having studied art at Gloucestershire College of Art, she established her own small pottery in Winchcombe. In the early years of the Coxwold Pottery, she actually produced more pottery than Peter, before family commitments reduced her activity. When she resumed her active potting, she developed an interest in raku ware. Her pottery was shown in various exhibitions and sold through outlets such as 'Contemporary Ceramics' and the 'Craftsmen Potters Shop and Gallery' in London. In recognition of her skills and standing she was made an Honorary Member of the Craft Potters Association. == The Pottery ==

Coxwold' pottery Their products are usually referred to as 'Coxwold pottery', not as 'Peter Dick' or 'Jill Dick' pots. It does not refer to the business. The Pottery was just off the Oulston Road in Coxwold, originally this was a dairy barn with an orchard. The Pottery closed in 2012, following the death of Peter Dick. Though labour-intensive, needing an all-night firing, the ash from the kiln landing on the pottery gave the glaze a mottled effect to the largely brown to yellow glazes. The pottery especially in the early years was fired in a bourry fire box-style kiln, later a second chamber for stoneware was added. Outlets and exhibitions The pottery was sold through a number of outlets, including their own showroom in Coxwold, but also in London for a time through the Elizabeth David shop, Harrods, W. A. Ismay, wrote a review of a major exhibition of some 300 pieces of their pottery, held at the Craftsman Potter's Shop, London, September to October 1977. == References ==