Tallie opened Turning Earth in 2013 after using similar open-access ceramics studios while touring the US as a theatre manager. She is inspired by the ceramics culture across America, where a hundred times as many people practice the craft (despite the population being only ten times the size) and where value is placed on the work of hobby makers. Her vision is to make ceramics an accessible craft that anyone in the UK can practice, whatever their reason for doing so.
Tallie has a background in sales, and has worked in fundraising in the charity sector and in merchandise and management for large-scale theatre projects. She understands that sales and marketing skills are important for craftspeople in a digital age and enjoys creating opportunities for artists to develop their businesses.
Tallie’s first professional role was as a consultant in the field of corporate social responsibility. She brings her commitment to building a sustainable and just world to every project she works on.
Lewis joined Turning Earth in April 2015 and is now Managing Director
Stella is originally from Italy but moved to London over 10 years ago. She has been in the team for several years and after trying her hands on different jobs, from technician to studio manager, from admin to events, she is now in charge of our classes and events across the studios. She likes all things crafty and creative, so it's no surprise that she spends her free time making ceramic jewellery, DIY little jobs for her house, or just finding the newest cool spot in town to have fun at.
Clare has been working with clay for many years, having discovered ceramics while at university in the United States. After graduating, she pursued her love of ceramics on a part-time basis while working in the financial services sector. In 2016, Clare made the transition to working as a full-time potter and pottery teacher. She is currently the studio manager at In Production, Turning Earth's communal studio for emerging professional makers.
Clare’s creative focus is functional ceramics in stoneware and porcelain. She is drawn to streamlined, architectural shapes in muted tones, although she also enjoys the occasional contrasting pop of colour. While the majority of Clare's work is wheel-thrown, she also produces decorative pieces that combine thrown and altered and hand-built components. Clare enjoys atmospheric firing techniques including reduction gas, soda and wood firing.
Dimitris has studied graphic design and 3D animation in Athens, Greece. Having explored multiple creative mediums and processes, he has stumbled upon clay and immersed himself in the ceramics world since then.
Dimitri’s sculptural vessels are entirely hand-formed, presence and process-focused.
For his classes, he likes to play good music and infuse chill creative vibes.
Robert started his journey in ceramics back when it was possible to do an intensive three-year degree in the subject at Central St. Martins. After Central, he worked as a maker and teacher and grew more and more interest in patterns and colour. He started designing textiles and subsequently did a master's degree at the Royal College of Art to enrich his understanding. At the RCA he was awarded an additional year so he could develop further his innovations in digital approaches to creative design. Following the RCA he worked as a design professional in fashion and then homeware. The exuberance of fashion and a love of colour and pattern continues to be a strong influence in his own practice.
Rosie pivoted from a successful career in corporate event management to pursue her passion for ceramics, transforming her long-time interest into a full-time profession during the lockdown. She trained under the ceramicist Romilly Graham, serving as her studio assistant, where she developed a love for porcelain and gained experience in studio operations. Simultaneously, she began teaching at Turning Earth, further honing her skills and expertise.
In June 2024, Rosie co-founded Stable Yard Pottery alongside four fellow Turning Earth members, creating a dedicated space for her craft.
Ruby Delaney is a 22-year-old multimedia artist originally from Boston, Massachusetts. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Amsterdam University College where she focused her studies on Art History and Global Cultures. She has worked at several pottery studios around the world.
She grew up in a cosy furnace in the countryside of Italy, Umbria, where her mum used to make ceramics with slip casting. And then she spent a large part of her youth In San Francisco. At 16, her first job was painting small clay bits with oxides. At the time, she thought it was the best job in the world. After high school, she pursued a career in illustration, focusing on children’s books. In her 20s, she expanded into filmmaking, working as a video maker for more than 15 years between Padua, Milan, and Los Angeles. At some point, she got tired of spending endless hours in front of a screen and decided it was time for a change. She took pottery classes in Milan and straight after attended workshops in London, where the pottery scene was thriving. Eventually, she joined Turning Earth, where her pottery journey truly began. Becoming a technician gave her the technical skills that make her now a great teacher.
Vanessa likes to create wheel-thrown and sculptural ceramics influenced by traditional East Asian forms and techniques. She originally trained in Fine Art and Art History at Goldsmiths (First Class Honours, 2016) and later completed her Master’s degree in Aesthetics and Art Theory at the Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy (Merit, 2019). After attending a throwing course in London and falling in love with the craft, she decided to pursue a career in ceramics.
She currently works as Head Technician at Highgate, where she can be found tinkering with kilns and making glazes for the studio. Vanessa is also a professional artist-educator with over 7 years of teaching experience, with a PGCE in Art and Design from UCL (2022). Her teaching approach blends technical skills with spontaneity and freedom, and she loves having conversations about art history and craft with her students.
