Meet the Team

I have had a varied life and career and I bring my experience and enthusiasm to Dartmoor Makers CIC, which I founded in 2023. Having spent many happy hours in various pottery studios I want to bring the joy of working with clay to as many people as possible, regardless of income or socioeconomic background. Working in a variety of settings, my preference is for small organisations that have a positive impact on people’s lives and I’ve seen and felt what a difference these small social enterprises can make. I was lucky enough to be able to found Dartmoor Makers CIC to share the joy of making with those around me. I love bringing people together and making things; two cornerstones of Dartmoor Makers.

One of my earliest memories is scooping clay from the local stream in Worcestershire and making pots (which invariably cracked in the oven).  I have attended weekly ceramics evening classes since I was at school with very few gaps.  I found I just liked being around potters and clay – both because it was an ongoing journey, but also because it grounded me (centred me, perhaps) – it’s a very honest medium.  I have had lots of teachers – Gill Pemberton was the one who has influenced me most – introducing me to all sorts of techniques but mainly for her all-embracing enthusiasm and experience.  I taught teenagers in a huge Leicestershire ‘comprehensive’ for 30 years.  I was a science teacher but everyone knew I was a potter at heart!  There is something special about being there when someone (young or old) picks up a lump of clay and gets lost in working out what it can do – being able to encourage that is a privilege.

I’ve always made things. Since I was a small child always doing something with my hands. This led me to a career making things for film, television, theatre, even the circus, and working for companies such as Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. I am passionate about mending and restoring and about trying to keep things out of landfill, instead bringing new life to forgotten objects that might otherwise be thrown away. Working with your hands brings an amazing feeling of calm and well being. It increases confidence, and helps keep skills alive. Having children and families making things, learning new skills, and creating together with Dartmoor Makers is a wonderful experience.

I am Claerwen Gillespie, I did a degree in Ceramics down at Falmouth in 2002, and have been working in Ceramics over the years, but very much as a Mother of three. My Mum was a potter and so I have been surrounded by clay all my life and have always made stuff out of clay. I was entirely sculptural though, (my work is like ceramic illustration, characters from stories and theatre and so on) until recent years when I have found a love of throwing. Too late to learn from my Mum, but I am enjoying topping up my skills doing courses in Newlyn and with Russel Kingston, etc. I have been using the traditional North Devon Earthernware slip and sgraffito decoration techniques to draw all over my pots. I love teaching pottery, people come up with great ideas and make amazing things, and their questions inspire me too.