The Tale of Two Potters

A new DVD or download £19.99 available from Artisan Masterclass

Indulge in two hours of hands-on, practical pottery demonstrations accompanied by delightful anecdotes from the fascinating lives of third generation Leach potters.

Philip and Frannie Leach established Springfield Pottery in Hartland, North Devon in 1979 and have been producing their distinctive style of earthenware ever since. As the son of Michael Leach and grandson of world-famous Bernard Leach, Philip and his wife Frannie (who trained with Michael) continue this historic legacy with passion and integrity.

Their journey as potters unfolds as they walk the viewer through the stages of making a set of tea bowls (chawan) and pressed dishes. For both established and aspiring potters, it’s a chance to see inside their studio and learn techniques such as kneading, throwing, combing, trailing, impressing the clay and combining decorative slips and glazes.

Peppered throughout are biographical notes and moving anecdotes. Frannie recounts a childhood growing up in the Bahamas and working in New York before falling in love with ceramics. Philip spent 6 years teaching in Iran, where ancient Persian ceramics directly influenced the development of his blue glaze.