Sonya Wilkins Ceramics at Potfest Shaftesbury and Celebrating Ceramics Waterperry Gardens
This July, I will be exhibiting my work at two wonderful ceramic events: Potfest South West, Shaftesbury and Celebrating Ceramics at Waterperry Gardens, near Oxford. These shows offer an opportunity to see my nature-inspired ceramic vessels in person, to spend time with the surfaces and forms, and to experience how each piece holds a relationship between clay, landscape and wellbeing.
For anyone searching for contemporary ceramic artists in the UK, sculptural ceramics for collectors, or handmade ceramic vessels for interiors, these events offer a more direct and personal way to encounter the work. Ceramics are naturally tactile and spatial. They change when seen in natural light, when viewed from different angles, and when placed in conversation with the body. A website can share an image, but standing with a vessel often reveals something quieter and more felt.
Potfest South West, Shaftesbury 2026
Potfest South West, Shaftesbury takes place from 3 to 5 July 2026 and brings together a selected group of ceramic makers in the South West. For me, this feels especially meaningful because my studio is based in Bleadon, North Somerset, and much of my work is influenced by the landscapes, trees, clay, light and seasonal textures of this part of England.
Visitors to Potfest Shaftesbury can expect a rich range of handmade ceramics, from functional pottery to sculptural ceramic art. My own work sits within the space between vessel and sculpture. I often describe my pieces as ceramic vessels rather than ceramic vases because the word vessel feels more open. A vessel may hold flowers, although it may also hold memory, stillness, presence, atmosphere or a sense of connection to the natural world.
At the show, I will be bringing ceramic vessels inspired by tree formations, earth textures, landscape surfaces and the quiet resilience of nature. Each piece is shaped through a process of observation, remembering and material response. Clay acts as a bridge between the human condition and the natural world, which is the central thread running through my work.
Celebrating Ceramics, Waterperry Gardens 2026
The following weekend, from 10 to 12 July 2026, I will be exhibiting at Celebrating Ceramics at Waterperry Gardens, near Wheatley, Oxford. This event is one of the most highly regarded ceramic shows in the UK and is set within the beautiful surroundings of Waterperry House and Gardens.
Celebrating Ceramics is particularly special because it brings together leading contemporary ceramic artists, collectors, interior designers, galleries and visitors who are deeply interested in clay. It is a place where people come to meet makers, understand process and buy directly from artists whose work resonates with them.
For collectors looking for collectable ceramic artists, emerging ceramic artists in the UK, or fine art ceramic artists working with sculptural form, this show offers time to look, ask questions and choose work with care. For interior designers searching for ceramic sculptures for interior designers, sculptural vases for interiors or bespoke ceramic commissions, seeing the scale, surface and presence of a piece in person can be especially valuable.
Nature-inspired ceramic vessels for collectors and interiors
My ceramic practice is rooted in ecological sensitivity, biophilic connection and the quiet relationship between clay and wellbeing. I am interested in how ceramic vessels can become activators for calm, grounding and reconnection within the spaces we live in.
Many of the pieces I create begin with time spent in nature. A tree trunk, a soft forest floor, a fragment of bark, a weathered surface or a remembered walk can become the starting point for a vessel. The work does not aim to copy nature directly. It responds to it through form, texture and material presence.
This is why handmade ceramics feel so meaningful within interiors. A sculptural vessel can offer a still point within a room. It can soften architectural lines, bring texture to a refined space and create a subtle connection to the natural world. For collectors, the value often lies in the relationship that forms over time, as the piece is seen in different light and lived with through daily moments.
Why visit Sonya Wilkins Ceramics in person?
Seeing ceramics in person allows the work to be encountered fully. The weight of a form, the depth of a surface and the quiet variation within clay are difficult to understand through an image alone. At Potfest Shaftesbury and Celebrating Ceramics Waterperry Gardens, visitors will be able to explore current work, ask about process, and discuss available pieces or possible commissions.
For those considering a bespoke ceramic sculpture commission, these shows are also a gentle starting point for conversation. A commission can be created in response to a particular space, memory, interior scheme or relationship with nature. This may include made to order ceramic pieces, custom ceramic vessels for interiors or a more site-responsive sculptural ceramic artwork.
I always feel grateful when people take time to stand with the work. Sometimes a vessel seems to speak quietly to someone before anything is said. That moment of recognition is one of the most meaningful parts of showing work in person.
Visit Potfest Shaftesbury and Celebrating Ceramics Waterperry Gardens
If you are planning to visit ceramic shows in the UK in July 2026, I would be delighted to welcome you to my stand at Potfest South West, Shaftesbury from 3 to 5 July, and at Celebrating Ceramics, Waterperry Gardens from 10 to 12 July.
These two events offer a wonderful opportunity to discover contemporary ceramics, meet ceramic artists, explore sculptural vessels and choose handmade pieces directly from the maker. You are also warmly invited to explore the Collections section of my website before visiting, where you can see more of the work and begin to notice which forms resonate with you. If you would like to discuss a piece, arrange a studio visit or talk about a bespoke ceramic commission, please visit the Contact page.
As you look ahead to the summer shows, you might ask which ceramic pieces you feel drawn to live with. Which forms offer a sense of grounding, connection or quiet presence in the spaces you call home?