Ale, the Galician Potter

By E. Hughes

When I arrived in Liverpool I had just finished a ceramics/pottery course in Spain which was part of an unemployment scheme. I really enjoyed it and the people who I worked with were great; it is a time I'll always remember with love.

Once in Liverpool I was living in Aigburth so I used to go to Lark Lane, to the Old Police station, where there was a pottery workshop. I went there all those years learning from both John and Dave.

Now after four and a half years I have set up my own studio-workshop in The Kif with funding from the Millennium Award Scheme. It wasn't easy at all; my boyfriend and a friend built the studio and fortunately I had been given the equipment, a 450 kg kiln, which was moved with the help of four men. My friend Chris helped me with the flyer, so I received lot of support from friends really. The materials I ordered were lost and I waited two days till I got them back. All went ok though as I got the studio finished and started holding the workshops which went quite well.

At the moment I am doing my own work and trying to market it and carry on with the workshops; it is difficult as I don't have any more funding although I manage to finance it.

I really like to do pottery and wish to make a living from it but I know it won't be easy. It is really exciting, it is a long process but when I open the kiln I find the pots surprisingly changed and beautiful; it's something very encouraging.

I must say I had a lot of support from John who is a potter, Chris and my boyfriend Ian whom from here I say 'Muchas gracias.'