Helen Beard’s distinctive pieces begin with drawings of quirky individuals and curious places, which she uses to illustrate her hand-thrown pots.

For Helen’s ‘bespoke’ collection every pot is individually thrown in Limoges porcelain on a potter’s wheel before being hand-painted. The pots are decorated using a technique that Helen developed to create an effect similar to watercolour and ink. Her freehand line drawing is transferred onto the pot and colour is painted over the drawing using different washes of ceramic stain. Each is unique - a work of art, but also a functional piece of domestic ware.

The ‘Dailyware’ pots are slip-cast in a Staffordshire porcelain from moulds of Helen’s wheel thrown forms. They are decorated with special lithographically printed ceramic decals of her artwork. A final firing melts the artwork into the glaze, so that it is tough enough for dishwashers, microwaves and everyday use.