I am mainly a slip earthenware potter making thrown, moulded and construction pieces. My pots are generally functional for domestic use. I like to create simple dynamic decoration using oxide based coloured slip.

I first became interested in pottery at secondary school. I trained as a doctor and became a paediatric anaesthetist working at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. I intermittently potted at evening classes over the next 20 years.

I set up my own small workshop in 2006. Since then, I have been gradually developing my potting style. Most of my work is made from earthenware terracotta clay using coloured slips with a clear glossing glaze fired in an electric kiln. However, over the last 10 years I have also been making pots from stoneware clay fired in a woodfired kiln.

Woodfiring adds a completely new dimension and complexity where the characteristics of the pots are more determined by the types of glazes and idiosyncrasy of the wood fired kiln. The thrill of firing a wood fired kiln and the anticipation of opening it at the end of a firing is difficult to match.

I retired in 2021 which has allowed more time to develop my pottery skills and style.

I donate a third of my sales to the Oxford Children’s Hospitals Charity.

David Mason