North Pottery
Ever since we started watching ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’ on Channel 4 we’ve been wanting to get our hands on some clay. We don’t know if it’s Keith Brymer Jones’s emotional enthusiasm or that it looks like a lot of fun, but we can’t wait to try throwing a pot. We’ve tried the air drying stuff, and although it can scratch the itch, we simply want to be in the hands of the kiln gods.…
Written by Creative Stories
02/07/2025
Photos and Cover image by Matthew Sturgess
It’s just our luck that tattoo artist, John Mcalary, based at New Rose Tattoo, has opened a new pottery studio in Otley called North Pottery. It’s a charming space where you can book classes and courses. We took this opportunity to ask John some questions.
John has been doing a creative job most of his career, he’s been tattooing for more than 12 years, but around 4 years ago he was looking “for another creative outlet that wasn’t related to my work.”
That’s when John saw an advert for a pottery class, “I decided to sign up. It was my first experience on the wheel. Soon after, I bought a wheel, set up the studio at home and kept throwing.”
John worked from his home pottery studio for a while, but “I simply wanted a larger space, I was fortunate to have a great space sitting empty, which got me thinking about opening a studio, not just for myself, but for others to use as well. It felt too big and too nice of a space to keep to myself.”
Pottery, especially throwing, is great for the mind John explains “it’s a great way to escape from the fast pace of pretty much everything these days. It slows you down, and in doing that teaches you patience. Throwing on the wheel also cancels everything else out, the only thing that you think about is the process of each step and that is a very relaxing place to be.”
It sounds like a lovely way to spend some time, couple that with the beautiful light that floods in through the windows and we already feel de-stressed thinking about it, “The building is a gem, and always draws the eye and I wanted to carry that through into the interior too.”
“Guests can expect a friendly welcome in a really nice space, with pretty amazing natural lighting… when it’s not raining. There is no pressure put on anyone, we are all here to have a bit of fun messing around with mud, and hopefully feel accomplished in creating something from a ball of clay.”
We’ve always found it amazing that from a lump of clay you can make a pot in the matter of minutes, “the act of shaping something real with your own hands is deeply satisfying and gives a true sense of pride.”
Not everyone feels artistic or creative, and it can be daunting trying something new. However, John says the studio is open to everyone, “from complete beginners to experienced potters.” There are also ‘Wheel Taster’ classes if you fancy giving throwing a try, “It’s a super relaxed session with no pressure, just a chance to have a go and enjoy yourself.”
John goes on to say about pottery “it will be different for each individual but for me it’s my quiet place, to slow down and relax while still giving me a creative outlet.”
The beginner course lasts for 6 weeks and is designed to teach you the basics. “So far, everyone who’s joined a class has walked away with a pot ready to be fired, and hopefully enjoyed it enough to carry on potting.”
If you’re still feeling like you might not be creative enough to give pottery a try, John says “it all comes down to how you perceive it. The thing with clay is, as soon as you touch it, you’ve changed its form and, in essence, created something new. The more you handle it, the more creative the piece becomes. One of the best things about clay is that it’s reusable, giving you the freedom to experiment and explore new forms without fear of making mistakes.”
North Pottery isn’t just for classes and courses, John will be making his own ceramics, selling small batches likely to be released in quartile drops. “These will include pieces featuring tattoo inspired designs alongside more traditional, minimalist styles. More details about my work will be coming in the next few months.”
We plan on heading to North Pottery ourselves to try out a class and we’ll report back with what we make.