Michelle Foote

Working on her traditional Leach kick wheel from her garden studio near St Ives, Michelle Foote creates work inspired by her immediate environment with a heavy emphasis on pattern and texture. She lives between the coast and a nature reserve, and often utilises found natural and man-made objects such as pebbles, an old fisherman’s knife, or shells, to influence her designs.

Michelle started making pottery nine years ago after exploring different art forms. She quickly established a love of throwing and realised that she could combine favoured techniques in painting and printmaking onto a 3D surface.

Talented artist Michelle is known for her exquisite decorative stoneware and porcelain pottery. Her creations beautifully capture the essence of her surroundings, drawing inspiration from both coastal and rural landscapes. Michelle’s deep connection with nature is evident in her work, as she spends countless hours exploring the area with her husband, and Monty the dog.

During these walks, she finds treasures like mark-making natural tools and striped pebbles, as well as being inspired by the mesmerising beauty of rock pools and expansive vistas. Through her skilled craftsmanship, Michelle aims to convey the spirit of these places in her pottery, employing forms, colours, textures, and patterns that evoke a sense of wonder and a deep connection to the environment.