OUR STORY.
Ely Clay Collective was founded by Georgie and Naomi in 2024. A chance meeting brought us together, Georgie had just returned from some time away from the city and during that time Naomi had started as a regular on the market. Our eyes met over a large terracotta ‘boobie’ planter, and the rest is history!
We both felt that there was a lack of creative space in Ely where people can meet up, and explore their creativity in a safe and supportive environment. Our vision is to create a space where people can learn about ceramics, grow their skills, hire studio space, meet like-minded people, buy handmade pottery, and even enjoy a coffee with friends.
GEORGIE
Georgie started pottery at an evening class back in 2016, proving that anyone can learn to be a pottery badass! Originally specialising in handbuilding, her first vase was lovingly described as “a stack of chips.”
It has been a long journey from stacks of chips to giant goat sculptures wearing hotpants, but here we are! Georgie creates both functional and decorative pottery, from tableware to sculptures, she likes to sculpt and paint expressive creatures and characters that make you smile over your morning coffee.
As the studio she learned at only had kick wheels, and she was regularly wearing heels post being in the office Georgie never really saw herself as a wheel thrower.
That all changed when she learned to throw in 2020 at the Leach Pottery in Cornwall. Electric wheels were a game changer, and she has found working at the wheel to be both awesome therapy and highly infuriating.
Georgie returned to The Leach Pottery for 9 weeks in 2023 to assist with the pottery’s first ever research residency into environmental sustainability.
She currently teaches an evening class at Chesterton Community College, Cambridge and volunteers with Arts and Minds pottery group for those living with dementia and their carers. Georgie believes that everyone has a potter hidden inside them, and she loves encouraging people to explore their creativity, leave the stress of the day behind them, and get covered in mud!
As well as working at her home studio Georgie is a studio member at Wysing Arts Centre, and has exhibited at their open days. She is also a member of Anglian Potters, and has a cheeky publication in Clay Craft magazine (issue 87 if you're interested...)
Previously a senior manager, Georgie has a coaching qualification and a business analysis diploma. She loves spreadsheets almost as much as she loves pottery. Establishing Ely Clay Collective has shown her how many times she wants to use the word "stakeholder" in a sentence!
NAOMI
Naomi discovered pottery in Lockdown 2020. Previously working as a florist and then stuck at home with nothing to do she did all the classic lockdown hobbies, including many failed baking attempts, funny looking crochet creatures, (the pink sheep still an adorable market mascot to this day) and then she found her home in pottery.
Starting with a bag of air dry clay, her love for the craft was so cemented she had found a studio space in the city of Cambrigde and purchased an old and rather doddery looking kiln on ebay before that first bag was even finished. In fact there's still half a bag of air dry clay in the back of the cupboard, quickly replaced by the real deal so pieces could go in the new and scary looking kiln she had no idea how to use.
She moved into Thrifts Walk studio group in Chesterton and set about teaching herself the beautiful craft. There were many stumbles and many hurdles along the way and the rollercoaster journey that she quickly discovered was to be the rest of her life, the joyous and humbling journey that ceramics brings. Forever more to learn, and ways to grow and improve.
In May 2021 she took the leap and started her first market stall at a little independent cafe in Histon, she absolutely fell in love with selling her work face-to-face, the perfect post lockdown tonic and so began a love affair with market trading she still has today.
Now trading across multiple cities, mainly Ely and Cambridge she is widely and lovingly known as the 'boobie lady' , selling unique hand crafted body pots, mugs and a beautiful hand-sculpted sea creatures. She wants to spread the love of all of our beautiful bodies, in all their many forms, strongly believing we should all see ourselves in her work and see just how beautiful our bodies are, just as we are!
Naomi has a BA in Fine Art from Goldsmiths University and is an artist to her core, self described as an artist who uses clay, she is playful and creative with the craft and finds joy in pushing the materials to its limits and using the clay to tell stories. She is also currently working on a series called "Mistreating Porcelain" and is excited to one day show her work in a beautiful creative space in her new home city of Ely.
GEORGIE
&
NAOMI
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