The Gaolyard studios

General information

John Bedding St ives potter trained under Bernard Leach at the Leach pottery St IvesI moved to St. Ives in the late 1960’s and worked with Bernard Leach, first as an apprentice and later, after a year in France, as a member of staff, during this period I was allowed to develop my own work and had three one man shows. In 1978 urged by Janet and Bernard Leach I went to Japan, as only the second potter to be sent to Japan by the Leach Pottery. I worked with Shigeyoshi Ichino; whom I had become friends with at the Leach. This was at his family pottery in the ancient pottery district of Tamba, my year culminated in a solo show in the prestigious Hankyu Department Store. I returned to England in 1980 and set up my own workshop, firstly in Penzance, and later Trencrom, on the outskirts of St Ives. At Trencrom I moved away from the more traditional Stoneware and Porcelain to explore low fired fuming and raku techniques in my search for a more individual style.

In 1990 I moved back into St. Ives and established St Ives Pottery which I later called St Ives Ceramics. This was fronted by a gallery in which I showed my own work and pots by other potters that I admired. With the arrival of the Tate Gallery in St. Ives I was chosen as the second guest potter to exhibit in their yearly exhibition.