Kelly – Of Cardiff Pottery Workshops Foundation CIC

With over 26 years of experience in pottery and ceramic education, Kelly is the founder and director of Cardiff Pottery Workshops CIC and Art Space Cardiff. Her deep-rooted belief in the power of pottery and Craft to enrich lives is reflected both in her personal practice and in her commitment to building an inclusive, creative community.

For Kelly, daily practice is essential for her wellbeing (this has only come about with the development of her new studio in 2025) — a grounding ritual in an often chaotic world. This sense of connection and mindfulness is at the heart of her work. Whether sculptural or functional, each piece she creates carries joy, intention, and a quiet strength. She hopes that those who engage with her work can feel the energy and care embedded in each form.

Kelly describes working with clay as one of the rare times she feels truly calm — when the head and hands are fully engaged, everything seems to come into alignment. It’s a moment where her mind feels clear and ordered, almost like tuning a radio: the static fades, and suddenly the signal comes through. In these moments, pottery becomes more than craft — it’s a form of quiet clarity and connection. For Kelly, it’s not necessarily about the finished object — after all, objects come and go. What matters most is the connection, grounding, and sense of purpose and joy that working with clay brings to her life. When she’s not making, she describes a feeling of chaos and disconnection — as though things are slightly out of alignment, untethered. Engaging with the material brings her back to herself, offering a quiet order in contrast to the noise of the everyday.

Kelly believes that craft and clay have a unique ability to bring people together, foster wellbeing, and transform lives. Her practice is not just about making objects, but about creating moments of connection — between people, place, and material. Above all, she hopes her work brings joy and a sense of meaning to those who encounter it and some peace of mind for herself.