Based in St Leonards-on-Sea, Kelly Jessiman creates her pottery at the family dinner table, with each piece fired and glazed in her garden shed. Drawing inspiration from contemporary paintings and ancient artifacts, Kelly embraces an organic creative process where the clay often takes on a life of its own, influencing the final form. From there, she decides on the glazing.

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Her work features scribbled notes and drawings layered onto the surface, telling a deeply personal story that reflects her life’s experiences—both mundane and challenging—along with symbols of good luck and protection. Kelly enjoys the unpredictable nature of pottery, experimenting with the contrast between traditionally crafted shapes and the organic imperfections inherent in hand-building.

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“I find inspiration all around me in shapes and forms—anything from a ladder to a chimney,” she says. “I often look at old graffiti, whether Roman, medieval, or modern, like schoolkids’ tags. It fascinates me how much human expression has remained unchanged over time.”

“I mainly use clay because I find it therapeutic to submerge my hands in mud. Clay compels me to finish my work as it dries, although the process can be long and unforgiving.”

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Kelly reflects on the role of art in everyday life: “The recent pots I’ve created aim to bring protection and luck back into the home. I’ve been particularly interested in medieval graffiti and ‘witches’ marks’—symbols etched into walls and hidden in roofs to ward off evil and attract good fortune. Over the years, many of these sacred marks have been lost during renovations, and I want to reintroduce them into our living spaces.”

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“I love being surrounded by beautiful and interesting things, so why not create objects for our homes that inspire joy and beauty? Art should be for everyone, enriching everyday life.”