Stableyard, Chagford, Newton Abbot. Devon TQ13 8BW
Chagford ceramics West DevonWorking from her studio in Chagford, Alison West creates wheel-thrown vessels and tableware using Cornish stoneware clay. Her pieces are rooted in the landscape, both in form and finish, drawing on traditional techniques and natural materials sourced from Devon.
Each pot is first sprayed with slips made from wild clays, collected and processed to reflect the muted tones and rich textures of Dartmoor and the Devon countryside. The pots are then nestled inside a saggar—a protective container—alongside foraged combustible materials such as pine cones, beech nuts, grasses, fungi, ferns, seaweed from the Devon coast, wood shavings, and naturally occurring minerals.
During firing in a gas kiln, these materials burn away in a low-oxygen (reduction) environment, leaving behind smoky, organic markings unique to each piece. The saggar firing process begins as soon as the kiln is lit and continues until the pots are completely cooled, resulting in decoration that cannot be replicated or controlled.
Alison’s vessels are left unglazed, their surfaces softly marked by flame and fume, showcasing the wild clay slips and the expressive nature of the firing. Her tableware, by contrast, is finished with soft, coloured glazes layered over the slips—subtle finishes that enhance the earthy tones beneath while maintaining functionality.
Together, these techniques create quiet, contemplative ceramics that speak of place, process, and the timeless interplay between clay and fire.
Together with Abi Higgins's www.abihigginsceramics.co.uk, Alison runs Saggar, Barrel and Raku firing weekend workshops in Devon. Please see website for all information.
