a close-up of beard’s watercolor-illustrated ceramics at her craft central studio, including cylinder vases (front)
As someone who loves the idea of collections but hates (fears) clutter, artist Helen Beard’s ceramics seem like the perfect compromise. Her illustrated pottery begs to be displayed, but looks and feels like it can withstand use and “love”. I’ve been a fan of Beard’s for a while — I think my first discovery was her simple, elegant bird cups sold at Ashes & Milk. This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to see her pieces thanks to Craft London events at Fortnum & Mason as well as Beard’s studio space at Craft Central in Clerkenwell. (My timing was off and though I had hoped to meet her in person, it didn’t work out: I wanted to hear about her inspirations, and ask about her experience as an apprentice to Edmund de Waal! I did meet Beards’s current apprentice, Tamsin Arrowsmith-Brown and was happy to discover her more minimalist line of ceramics.)
Beard’s whimsical illustration style works perfectly on pottery: many of the pieces have London themes (Lido fans should check out her charming “swimmers” collection). I’m hemming and hawing, plotting a “souvenir” order: choosing my favorite place in London will be hard! If you’re smitten, too, options include one-of-a-kind custom pieces that are individually thrown and hand-painted, an affordable line of dailyware (slip-cast from molds and decorated using decals and on-glaze paints), as well as a limited-edition sketchbook and an assortment of greeting cards.
a custom large bowl at craft central, featuring royal albert hall
egg cups at fortnum & mason
more of beard’s ceramics at craft central (bowl, front right, features the chelsea physic garden)
a wall of beakers and cups at craft central
photos by jane potrykus