Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of Notes from Herridge.

A monthly update from my Oxfordshire pottery studio where I’ll share what I’ve been making, events coming up, and spotlight a fellow maker whose work I think you’ll love.

Grab a coffee and let’s catch up ☕ 

Studio Happenings 

This month has been a whirlwind of activity and a real milestone moment. I mentioned in last month’s edition that I’d secured my first wholesale order, and I’m thrilled to share that it’s now official!

If you’re based in London, or planning some festive shopping in the city, you’ll  be able to find Herridge Pottery in Lavender Green on The King’s Road, Chelsea. A selection of my pieces including bud vases, dimple cups, jugs, and mugs are now available.

Lavender Green is one of the UK’s premier event florists, so to see my work stocked in such a beautiful space feels incredible. I had the pleasure of meeting the Chelsea team when I delivered the order, and it was wonderful to see how excited and passionate they were. I really hope this relationship continues to grow. If you happen to be in the area, please do pop in!

Back in the studio, I’ve been in full making and restocking mode ahead of the next shop update and the run of Christmas markets. The kiln has been firing almost constantly with new batches of feasting bowls, jugs, and candle holders all slowly making their way through the kiln.

Alongside restocking, I’ve been catching up on commissions including pet bowls, dated mugs, custom dimple cups, and a set of plates among them. One commission, though, came with a twist: I accidentally stamped the wrong date on a pair of mugs! Being dyslexic, it’s the sort of mistake that’s rare but entirely on brand. Rather than waste them, I decided to run a little competition to find someone who did have a reason to celebrate 29 Sept 25… a Monday, no less!

It was a niche one, but it came off! Congratulations to Danielle, Simone and Olivia, who all had babies on that day, and thank you to Darcy for her excellent help choosing the winner! 

With the shorter days, the rhythm of the studio has shifted. I now try to walk Darcy and Bunty during daylight, meaning a lot of emails, DMs and even reel edits happen mid-walk with two muddy dogs in tow. However, I am always incredibly grateful to have the girls forcing me to get up and outside. I hope you’ve managed to get out too, the autumn colours this year have been spectacular.

What’s Coming Up 

Next Shop Update – Mid-November
Subscribers to my mailing list will get first access, so if you haven’t already, sign up on my website to be among the first to know.
This next batch will include everything from herb labels and oil burners, to dimple cups, big jugs, and of course feasting bowls which will come into their own this festive season. From small stocking fillers to statement pieces, there really is something for every budget.

Christmas Commissions
Please get your Christmas commissions in by 10th November for completion in time for Christmas. If you’re local and can collect, there’s a little more flexibility.
If you have your eye on something specific for the November restock, send me a message! I don’t require a deposit for non-customised work, so there’s no harm in letting me know what you’re hoping for.

Christmas Markets
I’ll be popping up at several markets in the run-up to Christmas. I’m particularly excited for the Nettlebed Market, just a stone’s throw from the studio and home to my lovely stockist McQueen’s Deli. It’ll be wonderful to meet some familiar faces and new ones alike.

New Kiln Incoming!
Yes, it’s finally happening; a larger kiln is arriving imminently. I’ll be keeping both, giving me some much-needed capacity (I wouldn’t have believed this time last year that I’d need to scale up so soon). It does mean some studio reshuffling, including moving my desk out to make space. This feels like quite a step forward, cementing this next chapter in my journey away from the corporate world! Oh and it’s the busiest time of the year in the studio, so we’ll see how that goes… what could possibly go wrong?

Maker Spotlight — Christine Evans

This month I had the joy of heading up to Cheshire to visit Christine Evans for her annual open studio. Not only does she showcase her own work, but she also hosts several local artists, creating a melting pot of creativity and inspiration. It was such a treat to see the diversity of work, meet the artists, and chat with fellow visitors, many of whom were creatives themselves.

Christine is a contemporary artist inspired by colours, and forms found outdoors; often coastal, but not exclusively. She has a gift for framing what might seem mundane to others; the underside of a moored boat, a weathered door in a Greek village, rugged cliffs against dropping into the sea, or the moody hues of heathered Scottish Highlands. Her work distils these forms and colours down to their essence, balancing spontaneity with structure to capture the feeling of a place.

I’m lucky to have a couple of her pieces in my home and to have grown up watching her creative evolution, from stained glass and her “Artist on a Bike” days to more recent explorations while caring for my grandfather in North Yorkshire. One of her pieces hangs by my back door and lifts me every time I see it, exactly what art should do.

In true Christine fashion, she’s continuing to push boundaries. She recently won a public vote to be represented by The Harbour Gallery in Truro throughput 2026. A fantastic achievement that speaks volumes about how deeply her work connects with people. It also means she’ll soon be heading to Cornwall to create a new coastal body of work, what an exciting challenge.

And for those who don’t know; yes, Christine is my aunt, and I feel incredibly lucky. When I talk about the Herridge name reflecting a tradition of artists and makers in my family, Christine is a huge part of that shared heritage. She recently sent me this gorgeous photo of her teaching my sister and I the joys of a banana baked on a bbq with lots of chocolate (I think there may have been a mars bar involved)!

Galleries & Exhibitions:

Tarpey Gallery "Reverie", Castle Donnington

Point Contemporary "Small Winter", Cromer 

The Lake Gallery "Winter25", Wirral

From 2026: The Harbour Gallery, Truro

Studio visits by appointment.

Instagram: @christineevans_artist

Website: christineevansartist.co.uk

If there’s a maker, potter or otherwise, local or further afield, whose work you think deserves the spotlight, I’d love to hear from you. Just comment below with their name. And if I can get to their studio, I absolutely will! Stepping into someone’s creative space brings a whole new layer of insight. You see the context, the process, and what the work gives back to the maker, it’s always deeply rewarding.

A Little Treat for You 

As a thank you for reading all the way down, here’s a small treat: 

Use code NOTES05 for 10% off all handmade pottery online orders until Sunday 9th November.

And if you’re on Instagram, come say hello at @herridge.pottery. Every like, comment, and follow helps spread the word about Oxfordshire handmade pottery and keeps Herridge visible to more people. If you’ve enjoyed this edition, feel free to forward it to a friend who loves handmade ceramics.

Until next time, Henrietta x