About

My name is Ben Sutton. I am a ceramics designer/maker based in East London. Having originally made ceramics as a hobby, I have been selling my work and developing my practice as a ceramicist since summer 2014.

My work ranges from tableware to decorative bowls and vases, with an aesthetic that fuses Scandinavian design with Japanese simplicity. Working exclusively in hand-thrown porcelain, I aim to make work that is visually bold yet elegant and tactile.

The reason I love making functional ware, is that the pieces I make aren’t limited to being a static display. Although I hope that people find a piece beautiful, I also want them to connect with it and incorporate it into their life through everyday use. Ceramics have a permanence and durability that means they can last indefinitely. I love to think that the pieces I make might become part of not just my story, but also the stories of many more people who will use it and appreciate it long into the future.

The main focus of my work is high-fired porcelain tableware and vases. From early on I was attracted to the unique qualities of this material. I loved how its smooth texture, translucency and whiteness are perfect for complementing and emphasising a clean form.

I like to make use of both glazed and unglazed surfaces. As an unglazed surface, porcelain has a wonderful tactility that encourages you to touch and hold it. For functional pieces glaze is necessary for practical reasons, but where possible I juxtapose this with an unglazed outside, or glaze halfway down the pot.

My work is heavily influenced by time spent growing up in Finland, finding particular inspiration in the homewares of Kaj Frank, Lisa Johansen-Pape and Alvar Aalto. This can be seen in my preference for clean lines, for simple forms, combined with occasional use of strong, glaze colour accents.

If you have any enquiries or comments please get in touch. I take commissions and special requests.

Out of town for a couple of days camping at @kneppwilding 🌳🌿 starting off with a tea in the sun in a lovely and translucent porcelain mug ☕️

May bank holiday holiday means drinks time! (For you… I’m working 😢) As a potter, I love drinking out of porcelain. These chaps are light, translucent and and elegant, but still have that handmade feel 👌 Have peek on my webshop if you fancy getting some for your summer of classy cocktails 💁‍♀️🍹

Not sure what tone this clay will end up as it’s some mixed up reclaim, but it will be covered in white slip regardless 🤷🏼&zwj;♂️

Back at the wheel throwing some slightly too dry clay, that’s allowing me to push it real thin 😅

Not sure what tone this clay will end up as it’s some mixed up reclaim, but it will be covered in white slip regardless 🤷🏼‍♂️ Back at the wheel throwing some slightly too dry clay, that’s allowing me to push it real thin 😅

Just sanded some cocoons and restocked them on the website. Been a bit quiet on here and in the studio as I’ve been teaching loads to pay the bills. Hoping to get back in the making wagon in the next few weeks!

Some freshly sanded Orbit vases in their beautifully chalky bisque-fired state. Just need to make a few more porcelain pieces so I can fill the kiln. Thinking a large moon jar!

Boshed out some tea light holders for a commission for @akokorestaurant this afternoon 💪 There’s definitely a unique satisfaction to making batches of pots. Glad to be able to do both batches and unique pieces… keeps things interesting!

I haven’t made any Orbit vases in over a year… think it might be time.

It’s fun to explore but sometimes it’s also really good to go back to old familiar territory. Getting round to throwing my first pots of the year, and enjoyed spending time with my old friend the Cocoon vase (mixing metaphors can be fun too). The medium size is currently out of stock, but I’ll have some more up in a few weeks once these chaps are fired.

Last pots of the year are some little cups to use as glaze tests. My overriding philosophy is that if you are going to do a glaze test, you might as well be able to drink something out of it afterwards! I’ve got three more classes to teach and then looking forward to little break by the sea ✨

A very cute little moon jar that is up on my shop 🎁🎄 I have a few moon jars available in a range of sizes and clay tones, I really enjoy making these! This one has a loosely thrown vibe where I’ve brought the shape narrower, giving the right amount of wonkiness.