Mary Rich

Mary has been working as a professional potter since 1962 and she remains one of Britain’s finest ceramicists. She is a Fellow of The Craft Potters Association and a member of The Devon Guild of Craftsmen.

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Mary initially gained a National Diploma of Design from Bournemouth Municipal College of Art followed by working with Harry and May Davis at the Crowan Pottery. Further experience was gained by working with David Leach OBE at Lowerdown Pottery, Bovey Tracey, Devon. By 1962 Mary had started working on her own and in 1969 she established her current pottery at Cowlands Creek, Devon where she continues to live.

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Her early works were high-fired domestic and decorative pieces. However, since 1983 she has only produced thrown porcelain and is best known for the way in which she has mastered a combination of underglaze stains and coloured slips which are fired with a clear matt stoneware glaze. After the porcelain has been in the stoneware firing geometric designs in gold lustre are fired on top of the glazed pots to a lower temperature). The gold lustre is banded and painted by hand.

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Her work continues to be collected on a world-wide basis and is housed in many private and public collections.

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Mary’s 80th Birthday Retrospective was due to take place at The Round House Gallery, Foston, Derbyshire in May 2020. It was unfortunately cancelled until a future date (due to COVID 19). Over 150 pieces dating back to the early 1960s will eventually be for sale.

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Mary passed away in 2022.