Jo Wood

My practice blends thrown and hand‑built ceramics inspired by global textiles and nature, using sgraffito, slip trailing, and pre-made stamps to create surface textures.

My journey with studio pottery began at Derby University in the 1990s, where I first learned to throw clay and discovered a deep fascination with the making process. Those early experiences shaped my appreciation for form, texture, and the dialogue between hand‑building and wheel‑throwing.

Today, my practice brings together thrown domestic ware and hand‑built forms, influenced by the vibrant colours and tactile qualities of global textiles, particularly those from India. These inspirations, combined with references to the natural world, inform the surfaces of my work.

Surface decoration is central to my creative approach. I use sgraffito, slip trailing, and handmade stamps created by pressing clay into textured materials and fabrics before firing. These methods allow me to translate the softness and intricacy of textiles into the permanence of ceramic form, evoking warmth, memory and touch.

I aim to create well‑crafted pieces that honour traditional skills while remaining expressive.

Studio visits

My studio will be open 11am – 5pm for visits on the following days:

Saturday 2nd May
Sunday 3rd May
Monday 4th May

About my studio

My Studio is in my garden which you access via The 115 Gallery Space. There is plenty of room to look around, sit, rest, ask questions and enjoy my art and garden in a large greenhouse studio.