About Sea Drift Pottery
Ceramics created at Sea Drift Pottery evoke Scotland's west coast in the layered slips and glazes. Simplicity of form, functionality and use are carefully considered in design to allow each item to be part of your everyday life.
Having spent many years learning from professional potters and attending community run classes, Pauline Beautyman set up her own studio in 2016 near Dunoon, Argyll. Here she creates her own style of ceramics and also teaches those who want to carry on the tradition of throwing pots on the pottery wheel through workshops and regular classes.
Each design is considered; how it will be used, held, lifted, stacked or viewed. Her style continues to develop through the roots of traditional teaching and the depth of knowledge generously shared. It has given strength to her motivation of seeking simplicity of shape and form, good functionality where is needed and freedom to explore new avenues of ceramic art.
Each ceramic item made at Sea Drift Pottery is made of stoneware clay and begins by being thrown on the potters wheel or formed slowly by hand. Various stages of development are then undertaken to complete each piece before being fired twice in the electric kiln.
The rhythm and repetition of throwing all the pots in small batches is appealing. At this stage each pot is measured for uniformity but when it comes to layering up the decoration, each one is made slightly different to retain their unique character.
Hand formed pots provide a slower, individual approach to creating and some finished items are a hybrid of thrown and hand built elements. Texture and layers of various coloured clays are added. Some clays have been found locally, and applying them sparingly but with thought add a depth to the final look. The range of clay slips and glazes have been developed at the studio, and all build towards the final outcome of each pot.
Inspiration of how to glaze and decorate the pottery comes easily being completely surrounded by the hills and shorelines of Argyll. Sketches and photographs of textures, naturally found patterns in landscape, rocks, shorelines and vegetation all contribute in their own way. Family times exploring hills and glens, building rock sculptures on the beaches, and being caught in ever changing weather are all experiences contributing to the finished look of each piece of pottery.
Ceramics made at Sea Drift Pottery can be found at various galleries and independent shops supporting work which is solely handmade.
Learn Something New in a Welcoming Environment
Where You Can Buy
You can buy Sea Drift Pottery work online and locally in a variety of Scottish art studios and galleries.
If you have a gallery or a shop which exclusively sells handmade work and you would like to stock my handmade ceramics then please do get in touch.
- Aberfeldy Gallery, Aberfeldy, Perthshire
- Saltwater Gallery, Isle of Arran
- Whitehouse Gallery, Kirkcudbright
- Coastal Designs, Campbeltown, Argyll
- Sea Pink Gallery, Isle of Colonsay
- Sunshine No.1, Mount Florida, Glasgow
- Weems Gallery, Pittenweem, Fife
Getting Here
Sea Drift Pottery is situated in Sandbank, Argyll but is well connected to the central belt of Scotland only being an hour from Glasgow.
Local Directions
From around the Dunoon area: Drive to Sandbank and into the marina, keep straight ahead towards the reception office. Turn left before the office and park.
From the North
Drive into Sandbank with Holy Loch on your left. Take the first turning left in the village and the entrance to the marina is on the left at the bend in the road.
From the West
If you are visiting from the other side of the Clyde, take the Western Ferry from Gourock to Hunters Quay. When you get off the ferry turn right and follow the shore road to Sandbank. After you pass the play park on your right you will come to a sharp bend in the road to your left. At this bend, the marina is on your right.