Kirsty Adams is an award-winning ceramicist, making for over twenty years. She originally trained at Brighton Art College and then on the potters’ wheel in Japan. She has developed a personal approach to throwing on the wheel using porcelain clay, to produce unique pieces for the home. Having originally set up a studio in London, she now works from her studio in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Kirsty’s work is both functional and holds aesthetic meaning, retaining the spontaneity and delicacy intrinsic to making on the potters’ wheel. A Japanese comb tool is used to create and enhance the throwing lines. The high gloss glaze references the porcelain in its wet state, while the bronze lustre rim and copper green rim details bring individuality to each piece. The Turitella vases echo childhood memories of beach-combing, which Kirsty loved, to find tower shells. Her Icelandic collection is the culmination of a research trip to Iceland to express the ‘otherworldliness’ of the landscape. Kirsty has recently introduced a limited edition Tenmoku tea bowl collection as a celebration of twenty five years since training in Japan.

She recently won a Crafts Council opportunity to design a bespoke range for the National Trust's Artisan and Craft Collection, working directly with both the National Trust Collections. The collection is on sale in National Trust shops. In addition to being represented on the Crafts Council Makers Directory, Kirsty is a selected member of Design-Nation UK and Society of Designer Craftsmen. She has been selected by the Michelangelo Foundation as a Master Artisan for their prestigious and globally renowned Homo Faber Guide.

Exhibitions and Outlets

Nov 2024 ‘Gifted’, Studio Eleven, Hull

Oct 2024 Showcase, Studio Vault, Settle

Oct 2024 Showcase, Sustainability, Great Northern Contemporary, Manchester

Sept 2024 Via Arno Salon, Homo Faber The Journey of Life, Venice

Sept 2024 Stoke on Clay Festival, Stoke on Trent

Jul 2024 Showcase, Hancock Gallery, Newcastle

Jun 2024 Showcase, Centre of Ceramics Art, York

May 2024 Colour Field, Gallagher and Turner, Newcastle

May 2024 Secret Ceramics, SoShiro Gallery, London Craft Week

Mar 2024 Showcase, The Biscuit Factory Gallery, Newcastle

Mar 2024 York Ceramics Fair, Craft Potters Association

Nov 2023 MADE London, Angel

Oct 2023 Watermark Gallery, Harrogate

Jun 2023 Alnmouth Arts Festival, Northumberland

Jun 2023 Yoremill Craft Gallery and shop, Aysgarth Falls

May 2023 Future Icons Selects, Oxo Tower Wharf, London Craft Week

Mar 2023 York Ceramics Fair, Craft Potters Association

Nov 2022 Open Exhibition, Gallagher & Turner, Newcastle

Sept 2022 Pop up Crouch End, Thrown Contemporary, London

Sept 2022 Only Clay, Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield

July 2022 Thrown Contemporary Summer Show, Caerhays Cornwall

May 2022 Wild Collective, Omved Gardens, Chelsea Fringe

May 2022 Future of Craft, London Craft Week

April 2022 Tree of Life, Studio Cennen, Wales

Nov 2021 Pop up shop, John Lewis Newcastle

Oct 2021 London Craft Week, Menier Gallery, London

Sept 2021 York Ceramics Fair, Craft Potters Association

July 2021 Thrown Contemporary Summer Show, Caerhays Cornwall

Dec 2020 Pop up shop, John Lewis Newcastle

Nov 2020 Winter Show, Thrown Contemporary, London

Sept 2020 Magpie Contemporary Art, Surrey

June 2020 Thrown Contemporary featured maker

Mar 2020 Spring Launch, The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle

Oct 2019 MADE London, Marylebone

Sept 2019 15 Collingwood, Northampton

Jul 2019 Summer show, Strathearn Gallery, Perthshire

June 2019 Earth and Fire, Harley Gallery, Nottinghamshire

May 2019 Grand Designs Live, Excel London

Mar 2019 Spring Launch, Biscuit Factory, Newcastle

Nov 2018 Winter Launch, Biscuit Factory, Newcastle

Aug 2018 Autumn Show, Biscuit Factory, Newcastle

June 2018 The Old School Gallery, Alnmouth

May 2018 Ceramics show, Hepworth Gallery, Wakefield

Dec 2017 Hero, Stockbridge, Hampshire

Nov 2017 Shades of Clay, Kunsthuis Ceramics Gallery

Oct 2017 MADE London, Marylebone

Aug 2017 Leeds Craft Centre

June 2017 MADE West Dean, Sussex

Feb 2017 CSAD Auction, Cardiff School of Art

Nov 2016 Sea:Land, Lotte Inch Gallery, York

Oct 2016 Northern Design Festival, Newcastle

Sept 2016 Ceramic Art York

Aug 2016 The Mall Galleries, London

May 2016 Summer Showcase, New Ashgate Gallery

April 2016 Eastern Aesthetics, Bluecoat Display Centre

Mar 2016 Directory showcase, Design Days Dubai

Oct 2015 Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Showcase

Sept 2015 Ceramic Art York

June 2015 MADE, West Dean, West Sussex

June 2015 Vivre Cote Sud, Aix en Provence

June 2015 Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire

Mar 2015 Llantarnam Grange, Cwmbran, Wales

Jan 2015 Artichoke Gallery, Ticehurst, East Sussex

Jan 2015 Craft Centre Design Gallery, Leeds

Oct 2014 Found Gallery, Dunbar, Scotland

Oct 2014 MADE, Marylebone, London

Jul 2014 Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, Wales

May 2014 Storie Shop, Paris

Mar 2014 Turner Contemporary, Margate

Feb 2014 HEAL’S Modern Craft Market, Heal’s, London

Jan 2014 Top Drawer CRAFT, Earls Court

Press and Publicity

Nov 2022 Christmas Feature, Living North Magazine

Dec 2021 Christmas Feature, Country Living Magazine

Aug 2021 Meet The Maker feature, Living North Magazine

Feb 2021 Cut and Collect, Ceramic Review Magazine

Dec 2020 Emerging Potters Magazine

June 2020 Material Source Magazine, Feature Design Nation 5 new members

Dec 2019 Female Founders Club, tableware feature, London Evening Standard

Nov 2019 Pottering Around. In conversation with…by Mari Balsama Wilson

April 2019 Living magazine North East-Feature ‘Feats of Clay’

Feb 2019 Country Living’s Modern Rustic-Edition 13

Sept 2018 Delicious, Series 3, (Sky)

Aug 2018 Meet The Maker. Crafts Council Directory article

Jan 2018 Sainsbury's Magazine

Nov 2017 Luxe Magazine, North East

Dec 2017 Hairy Bikers Christmas Special (BBC)

2017 Country Homes and Interiors Magazine, Luxe

2016 Achica on line promotion

2016 Inside Outside Homes (Channel 4)

2016 The World of Interiors Magazine, Top Of The Pots

2015 Ceramics Review Online-Oct Issue Gallery

2015 China Ceramics Illustrated June issue

2014 The Lady Magazine Oct 3rd issue

2013 Food & Wine Magazine (USA)

2013 Great British Bake Off (BBC)

2012 Food & Wine Magazine (USA)

2011 Handmade in Britain, Piyush Suri (Vijay Publishing)

2005 British Studio Potters' Marks, Eric Yates-Owen & Robert Fournier

Competitions and Awards

2024 Finalist Fulham Brasserie and Pier Project, Adam Byatt abd Crafts Council

2017 Winner National Trust/Crafts Council Artisan and Craft Open Call

2003 Finalist Crafts Council/Chelsea Crafts Fair Scandinavia Award

Positions of Responsibility

2021- present Yorkshire Regional Co-ordinator Design Nation UK

About