Sue Pryke

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Sue Pryke Story

Sue Pryke has a background firmly rooted in craft. ‘I started my journey into ceramics at a small pottery in Lincolnshire. Learning the skills of production throwing. Digging the clay, then wedging and weighing it to throw. Making sure they were all the same size. It was this early interest in repetitive forms that sparked an interest in volume production and the need to have everything the same.

Wedgwood Heritage

After graduating I worked at Wedgwood as a shape designer guided by the design team. I covered everything from how a plate should sit on the table to how a spout should pour and everything in between. I also learned how to understand volume and the transition from 2D to 3D. This was a wonderful place to begin a career in ceramics steeped in history and with such a rich heritage to draw on.

I still use the skills I learnt there and prefer to work directly with materials so that I can naturally adapt the forms as the shapes are being made. I’m inspired by the everyday and the ordinary. Material qualities textures and the interaction we have with objects. Small details and preferences which reflect the intuitive decision making we all make on a daily basis when choosing what cup to use for a cup of tea.

Sue Pryke Collection

I wanted to create a my own collection of objects. A collection that sits comfortably in the home, isn’t awkward or tricky, but are familiar, have fluency and sit effortlessly.

The exploration of materials is a nod to the years working within retail and designing coordinating ranges for the home. To bring this range together I have collaborated with small factories and studios in England working with traditional craftsmanship, materials and techniques.

Some pieces, like the wooden bowls, are completely individual. The same shape but differing depending on the tree, the grain and turned on a lathe by a skilled craftsman. The terracotta and bone china are slip cast from a mould, each with tiny nuances but essentially the same. None of the range is mass manufactured. The beauty of each piece is dependent on the initial model, usually made by me, and the interaction the craftsman has with the material when making each piece.

Wild + Wood

My latest work is a collaboration with Wild + Wood. We deliver a range of products that are primarily concerned with pure form function and tactility.’