Laura Plant

MEET THE MAKER

My name is Laura Plant and I am a ceramicist living and working in Stoke-on-Trent. I started my business after graduating from an MA in Ceramic Design at Staffordshire University. Making in my hometown, ‘the Potteries’ I draw from the creative heritage and ambition of the pioneering potters who made the city famous. I make sculptural vessels that expose the unique qualities of the ceramic surface and create striking landscapes. I combine slip casting and throwing to explore the protentional of different clay bodies, glazes and decorating techniques.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEEDBACKS?

I was 2 years into my business when I started Crafting business, and shifting my creative focus from tableware to more decorative art work. I wanted my business to be financially sustainable and to become profitable. I quickly realised that although I want to be able to work in my studio nearly full time, money is not the driving force for my making. Through the programme I have gained a much greater understanding of why I make. Alongside the programme I was developing a new body of work, and understanding more of my ‘why’ pushed me creatively and I feel I found my voice as a maker. I am now more confident that I can use other income streams and make the work that I am passionate about. There is no one right way to run a creative business, it was very freeing to realise I could create the business I wanted! Running a business is hard, I previously avoided all business planning, and felt out of my depth with all things finance. Over the last 4 months I’ve really realised the value of having a business plan, I feel in control of where I’m is going for the first time. The biggest change from the programme is my perspective, from feeling constantly out of my depth I feel I can do all the things I want to, and I am enjoying learning how as I go.

FIVE THINGS YOU’LL BRING WITH YOU FROM THE EXPERIENCE:

• There is no right way to build a career in ceramics – it has to work for you
• You don’t have to have everything figured out, it’s a journey and it’s ok to make mistakes, you learn from them!
• Understanding you ‘why’ makes marketing and selling your work so much easier
• Knowing the value of you time and skill is vital
• Investing time in running your buisness is so important, spending all my time in my studio left me constantly tired and on the back foot