Hilary Stirling
Ceramics
Hilary’s ceramic work reflects the Japanese organic traditions, using blended Susssex clays to create plates and plaques


Hilary Stirling: The Crafty Potter
Hilary began making pots in 1975 when doing a teacher training course at Brighton College of Education. From 1975 onwards, ceramics became a hobby and a therapy for her professional teaching career, working with children with special educational needs.
In 1978 Hilary travelled to New Zealand and attended Victoria University in Wellington. Every spare moment was spent working with a nationally known New Zealand potter and learning the basics of ceramics. Hilary’s work continues to be heavily influenced by the geographical and aesthetic cultures of Asia, and a trip to Korea and Japan further developed the link to Zen traditions, to local clays, to organic forms and ash glazes.
Hilary has retired from teaching, although she regularly does presentations about the development of studio ceramics to Women’s Institutes, U3A and other organisations and she continues her education interests through temporary educational consultancy and research into special education.
Hilary’s own ceramic work reflects the Japanese organic traditions. Hilary uses blended Sussex clays, and creates her own celadon, ash glazes from wood ash. She uses recycled glass to decorate her work and features Sussex scenes in her plaques and plates. Her pots and plaques are high-fired stoneware, fired to 1260o Centigrade.