About me
Lucy Young Ceramics
my story
Pottery has been part of my life from the very beginning. I grew up in the Forest of Dean surrounded by clay, so making has always felt like something very natural to me. After 18 years of teaching teenagers, children and adults, I returned to my first love, the pottery wheel.
Now I spend my time making handmade ceramics and running pottery workshops from my studio at Maws Craft Centre near Ironbridge. My work includes functional tableware, everyday cups and bowls, and bespoke tankards for breweries and businesses across the UK. I love making pieces that feel good to hold and are made to be used and enjoyed in everyday life.
Featured in the Shropshire Star
In March 2025, I opened my studio at Maws Craft Centre in Jackfield and was delighted to be featured in the Shropshire Star in an article about my journey into professional pottery and the long ceramics tradition connected to Ironbridge. Being based here feels especially meaningful because of the area’s rich history of making, and it was lovely to see that recognised in print.
Pottery Runs in the Family
My dad, Alistair Young, studied ceramics at the Bath Academy of Art and set up his first pottery studio in Gloucestershire in 1978, producing wheel thrown domestic stoneware. He later went on to lead the ceramics department at The Royal Forest of Dean College, where he hosted highly regarded pottery wheel throwing conferences that brought together leading potters from across the UK and internationally for talks, workshops and demonstrations.
A Fellow of the Craft Potters Association, Alistair has also authored Setting Up a Pottery Workshop and worked on projects with Royal Doulton and Asprey. His dedication to the craft, combining technical skill with curiosity and care, has been a lasting inspiration in my own work.
Mastering the craft
Whichford Pottery is a brilliant family run workshop, known for its hand thrown terracotta pots and bespoke pieces. While working there as a production potter, I learned traditional wheel throwing and production pottery techniques that had been passed down through generations.
I had the chance to be part of high profile projects, from the Chelsea Flower Show to major garden commissions, and saw the studio’s wider influence first hand, including Adam Keeling throwing on The Great Pottery Throw Down. Those experiences continue to shape my approach and inspire my work at Lucy Young Ceramics.
beyond the studio
As well as making ceramics in the studio, I love seeing pottery become part of wider conversations, places and communities. My work has included bespoke commissions for breweries and businesses, public demonstrations, hands on workshops, and creative sessions for children, families and community groups.
For me, clay is at its best when it feels both personal and shared. It can be functional, expressive, playful and grounding all at once. Whether I am making a piece for everyday use or helping someone discover the wheel for the first time, I want that experience to feel generous, approachable and genuinely enjoyable.
