About Ella
Ella has been making ceramics since 2018. she started from a little studio at home in Edinburgh, and is now working from a beautiful converted hay barn just outside Pathhead in Midlothian
She is passionate about interiors and homewares, so it made logical sense for her to start making her own! She loves colour- the bolder and brighter the better as far as she is concerned- this is reflected in her home which was a finalist on Scotland’s Home of the Year in 2022. This passion for colour is seen across her work, with the intention of bringing a little bit of joy to each piece.
Ella’s work is intended to be used everyday. They are durable and practical, being both microwave and dishwasher safe (*excluding pieces with gold lustre). Her pieces move customers away from the cheap, mass produced products you find on the high street, but at the same time won't break the bank.
The Ceramic Process
Hand made, wheel thrown ceramics is a slow process that requires patience and a lot of coffee.
It starts with a ball of clay. Ella uses a white stoneware clay that she gets from a local Edinburgh supplier. This ball of clay is wedged by hand (a process to loosen up the clay and remove any air bubbles) and then taken to the wheel to be thrown and formed into a cylindrical shape. Once shaped, the pot is left to dry to a leather-hard stage (firm but still slightly pliable) before Trimming. This involves using tools to remove excess clay from the bottom and refine the shape, creating a foot or base if desired.
The trimmed piece is left to dry completely, which can take several days depending on the size and thickness of the clay. It is essential to dry the piece slowly and evenly to avoid cracking.
Bisque Firing: Once fully dry, the piece undergoes its first firing in a kiln, called bisque firing. This process hardens the clay and prepares it for glazing. The bisque-fired piece is porous and typically has a matte, white appearance.
After bisque firing, the piece is glazed. Glaze is a liquid mixture of minerals that, when fired, forms a glassy surface coating. This is hand painted onto Ella’s work making sure no two will be the same. The glazed piece is then fired again to 1260 degrees and the finished product comes out shiny and colourful.
Ella’s team is small but perfectly formed, with a studio manager and a second potter helping her meet the demands for her work.
Sustainability
Ella Fletcher designs strives to put sustainability at the forefront of the business. Clay is a natural material that is abundant and non-toxic, and therefore makes it more sustainable compared to synthetic alternatives like plastics. There is very little waste throughout the making process, as the clay can be reused until it has been fired.
Ceramics are incredibly durable and can last for centuries if not broken. This means that ceramic products do not need to be replaced as frequently as those made from less durable materials, reducing the overall consumption of resources over time. While ceramics are not easily recyclable in the traditional sense, they can be reused in various ways, and their durability also makes them suitable for repurposing.
Our main clay supplier is based locally in Edinburgh and we source all other materials from the Uk where possible. All packaging is plastic free or reused. Our studio is powered by a 100% renewable energy tariff and heated by the kiln that produces our stoneware. It is an ongoing process that we have been embracing in order to make a long-term change.