He previously worked as a graphic designer and craft teacher, but ceramics has been his passion for the past 25 years,
Adrian Bates, a self-taught ceramics artist who has attended numerous pottery workshops and masterclasses over the years, has been passionate about ceramics for the past 25 years. After working as a graphic designer and craft teacher, he transitioned to becoming a full-time maker in 2012. He currently teaches regular classes from The Clay Loft near Nailsworth, an experience he finds inspiring, challenging, and rewarding, while also tutoring workshops throughout the country.
Artistic Vision and Process
In his work, Adrian aims to capture a sense of elegance and timelessness, embracing simplicity with minimal embellishment. His pieces emphasize line and form, with accompanying negative space and proportion as the main elements. He creates stoneware sculptural pieces for home and garden, both thrown and hand-built from stoneware clays. Some works are simply glazed to highlight their form, while others remain unglazed. All pieces undergo a biscuit firing at 990°C, followed by refinement, glazing where appropriate, and high-firing to 1260°C in oxidation.
Exhibition History and Recognition
Adrian's ceramics journey began in 2000 after taking an evening class, following two decades in the graphics industry where he felt limited in creative expression. His work is now showcased at his studio (by appointment), online through his website, and at numerous craft shows throughout the year, with pieces found in galleries across the UK. He has completed various commissions, notably for University College London's Sustainable Design Awards in 2022 and Sustainable Manufacturing Awards in 2024, as well as for interior design agencies and garden designers. Adrian is a member of several prestigious organizations including the Craft Potters Association, Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen, Westcountry Potters' Association, and Cotswold Sculptors' Association, and his work can be found in private collections throughout the UK and Europe.