The Dennis China Works was launched in 1985 to make ceramics for collectors. Sally and Richard Dennis re-started the works in 1993 after reviving Moorcroft pottery for the previous six years. Sally Tuffin, well known and well thought of for her Moorcroft designs, has moved art pottery forward with her new Dennis China Works designs influenced by the arts and crafts movement and nature. The simple generous shapes of vases, jugs, plates and bowls are hand thrown on the wheel and carefully turned by Rory Mcleod and Jon Gray The decorating team led by Vanessa Whitemore include Louise Norris, Heidi Warr, Sarah Leeson and Tania Pike. Each pot is individually hand decorated using traditional sliptrailing and incising and then painted with underglaze pigments, building up layers of colour. Finally all pieces are signed and numbered. This is an opportunity to purchase low numbered pieces of a pottery at the start of a long history of creativity in design. A new revised edition about the Dennis Chinaworks is available for £15 (hardcover) or £10 (softcover).
Meet the Workers
Sally
Richard
Mea Maclean Mea joined in 1999 and is responsible for the pottery administration and order processing
Heidi Warr Trained at Yeovil College from 1994-1996 and worked in graphic design before starting at the Dennis Chinaworks in 1996. Starting with glazing pots she has become a principal decorator specializing in big pots.
Vanessa Thompson (Whitemore) Took a foundation course at Yeovil College then worked at Clarks of Street. She joined in 1993 and now is the production director and is resposible for training.
Rory McLeod Dip AD, furniture design , High Wycombe College. He set up his own studio pottery in 1987 until Dennis Chinaworks was established in 1993. He helps with Sally and the decorators to design the shapes.
Louise Norris From a foundation course she began at the pottery in 1994. As a senior decorator she was responsible for many of the big pots. She left in 1999.
Tania Pike From Shepton Beachamp the home of the pottery. From Art classes she developed her interest in the local pottery and jioned in 1998. Specializes in roundels.
Sarah Leeson Began with the pottery in 1998 as a complete change from working with children and has mainly worked on baluster vases. She left in 2000 to start a family.
Theresa Brooker BA Hons in textile design (Surrey institute 1994). She joined in 1999 from work as a lace designer and is now a senior decorator.
Catherine Mellor BA Hons in Art and Design at Warrick in 1998. She joined in 1999. She left the Dennis Chinaworks in 2002 to pursue a teaching career.
Chris Wright Degree in Ceramics from Cardiff University in 1992. He joined in 1999 having previously worked in potteries in Plymouth , France and Oxfordshire.
Jon Gray After complting a BA Hons in ceramics at Falmouth he threw pots managed the kilns until leaving in 1999.
Alan Pepper With a long career in ceramics working for several potteries including a modelling for Poole potteries and from 1999 has worked at the Chinaworks. He is resposible for the figurative knops , the glazing and the kilns.
Michelle Sutton New recruit in 2000. BA Hons in graphic design. She has become highly regarded for the Holden Wood seasons series of lanscapes and the miniature landscape.
Cheryl Lucas 2000-2003 Left in 2003 to be more available to her family in Glastonbury.
Marcus Jubb New recruit in 2000 and is regarded for his fine detail work. Previously he was an exhibited artist.
Susie Stone 2002-2003 Susie Stone has left in 2003 to live and work in Portugal
Susie
Adam White New recriut in 2003. Trainee decorator
New Display Item
Natasha New recriut in 2003. Trainee decorator
Natasha Chapman-Cox
Mark Jay New recriut in 2003 part time glazing and packing.
Heidi Warr
Vanessa Thompson (Whitemore)
Rory McLeod
Louise Norris
Tania Pike
Sarah Leeson
Theresa Brooker
Catherine Mellor
Chris Wright
Jon Gray
Alan Pepper
Michelle Sutton
Cheryl Lucas 2000-2003
Marcus Jubb
Susie Stone 2002-2003
