Earth and Fire, Rufford Country Park, Nottinghamshire - June 22nd -24th 2012

Strong winds and showers made this year's event a stressfull time for some potters but as usual the quality was excellent.

17th Pottery and Ceramics Festival - Art in Clay, Hatfield House - 5-7th August 2011

This years event included a Mick Casson retrospective and talks about the great man by Ben Casson and Jeremy Steward. The classical guitarist Catherine Thom played in aid of the Mashiko appeal and there was a exhibition of Henry Moore scupture in the gardens. All that plus around 180 potters selling their wares.

Aberystwyth International Ceramics Festival - July 1st-3rd 2011

The Aberystwyth International Ceramics festival attracts visitors from all over the world, there are kiln firings, demonstrations, films, lectures and pottery sales and exhibitions.

Earth and Fire, Rufford Country Park, Nottinghamshire - June 24-26th 2011

Visited on the Saturday, a lovely sunny day. Potter's stalls up to the usual high standard, I miss the anagama beast firing though.

16th Pottery and Ceramics Festival - Art in Clay, Hatfield House - August 2010

Around 180 potters this year, it gets better each year, thanks to Andy McInnes and his team.

Earth and Fire, Rufford Country Park, Nottinghamshire - June 25-27th 2010

It usually rains at Earth and Fire presumably because it is Glastonbury weekend but this year it was hot and sunny. I visited on the Friday to avoid the weekend crowds and had an enjoyable day meeting up with old friends and a few pots came back home with me.

Earth and Fire, Rufford Country Park, Nottinghamshire - June 26-29th 2009

Extended to 3 days this year but no amagama firing. Over a hundred potters and a campus area showing the work of up and coming potters. A visit to David and Margaret Frith's exhibition currently showing rounded off a great day.

Conderton Pottery - Open Weekend - June 2009

Toff Milway's annual event, this year with visiting American potter Dan Finnegan. Salt kiln opening, talks with a Darwinian theme, lots of home made cakes, mmmm nice.

Earth and Fire - Rufford Craft Centre - June 2008

My favourite pottery festival. Over a hundred potter's stands, demonstrations, anagama firing, Peter Hayes exhibition, wonderful!

ClayArt Wales 2008, Denbigh, North Wales - May 2008

Fortunately the rain of Friday night and Saturday had cleared away when I visited ClayArt Wales 2008 on the Sunday. I particularly enjoyed watching Doug Fitch, Fergus Stewart and John Stroomer demonstrating their throwing skills and witnessing the opening of the bottle kiln after Saturday's firing.

13th National Pottery and Ceramics Festival - Art in Clay, Hatfield House - August 2007

A wonderful weekend, 160 potters displaying their wares under blue skies, summer at last!!!

Earth and Fire - Rufford Craft Centre - June 2007

Excellent as usual, 101 potters this year, maybe someone sneaked in!

12th National Pottery and Ceramics Festival - Art in Clay - Hatfield House - August 2006

Set in the grounds of the wonderful Jacobean Hatfield House the festival has 160 exhibitors with stalls in a range of marquees named in memory of Hans Coper, Lucie Rie. David Leach, Mick Casson and Derek Emms. The Festival also includes a daily programme of talks, demonstrations and Kiln firings including a Ian Gregory's kiln in a supermatket trolley!

Earth and Fire - Rufford Craft Centre - June 2006

Set in Rufford Country Park in Nottinghamshire, Earth and Fire is my favourite pottery festival. 100 selected potters have stalls and there is also an anagama kiln firing and pottery demonstrations. The Rufford Ceramic Centre houses a collection of classic pots including work by Leach, Cardew, Rie et al. There is also a ceramics library of out of print ceramic books and a complete set of Ceramic Review and Crafts magazines available for nostalgic glimpses into the past.

Clay Art 2005 - Ruthin - May 2005

For me, the highlights of Clay Art 2005 were the throwing demonstrations given by Matsuzaki Ken aided by Yo Thom and Svend Bayer.

Earth and Fire - Rufford Craft Centre - June 2004

Wet and gloomy weather this year, great event otherwise.