Milldown Pottery
Milldown Pottery
Colourful, functional ceramics made with love and care in Goring on Thames
From her cosy garden studio in Goring on Thames Sarah Rushbrooke produces a beautiful range of domestic ware for the home.
Her love of clay was sparked when she made an Octopus plate in art class at primary school and her passion for pottery has remained undimmed ever since.
After a degree in the History of Art Sarah spent 15 years living and working in London as an expert in Modern Art for the world famous Christie’s auction house. However, her evenings were spent honing her pottery skills at evening classes and on specialist courses in throwing, glazing and other techniques.
‘As soon as I started playing with clay I knew that I wasn’t going to stop’ said Sarah and a move to Goring with her young family in 2007 allowed her the opportunity to realise her dream of becoming a professional maker.
A studio kitted out with throwing wheels and a kiln was built in the garden and she started to make bowls, plates and mug with an emphasis on colour and pattern.
‘I love creating something that is functional and like to think of my things being used’ she said. ‘Making bowls is very therapeutic, you can just lose yourself in the moment’.
Sarah works mainly in stoneware which is dishwasher friendly and ovenproof but is also creating a range in porcelain (technically the most difficult clay to work with) which includes quirky and eye-catching brooches, buttons, beads and rings.
She is constantly being inspired by visits to exhibitions, looking at other potter’s work and simply observing. Experiments with new glazes keeps her chemistry knowledge up to scratch. ‘I just love playing around with form and design, it is impossible to ever get bored’ she said.
Sarah sells her work at a selection of local outlets and, discovering a natural talent for teaching, also offers classes in her home studio.
