Alan Birchall Ceramics
Red Lion Pottery
Handbuilding a tea bowl
Red Lion Pottery Showroom
Wood ash glazes
Alan Birchall - a collector and a potter
Welcome to my pottery pages. I hope you enjoy browsing and find something that appeals to you.
Prior to setting up Red Lion Pottery in 2006 I worked as a General Practitioner but I had an interest in ceramics from an early age probably generated by the BBC interlude film "The Potter's Wheel' shown during the 1950' and 1960s.
My first real introduction to making pots was in evening classes during my early 20's but I didn't train seriously until much later following early retirement in 2002. At this point I studied for a City & Guilds in ceramics and then a diploma at Derby University. Since then I have attended numerous workshops and masterclasses with well known and distinguished British and Japanese potters, all of whom have significantly influenced me.
Inspired by the natural world and oriental culture, I make individual, thrown, functional and decorative pieces. Influenced particularly by Japanese potters, I also create hand-built and carved pieces.
I work in stoneware and fire in a wood-fired kiln that I have built at the pottery using old pallets .
Glazes are based on traditional oriental recipes and usually incorporate local wood ashes. The combination of natural ash and the raw flame produce new and exciting effects with each firing.
Alan Birchall