John Mackenzie is one of the most exciting contemporary studio potters working in Cornwall today.

Growing up in Cornwall, John has always drawn inspiration from its coastline, particularly the wild landscape of West Penwith. After completing a degree in Ceramics at Harrow University in 2001, John developed a fascination with kiln building. He recently built his own 140 cubic foot Anagama (cave) kiln near Gweek in Cornwall, fuelled with offcuts from a local sawmill. Each firing lasts around 50 hours and requires constant attention as temperatures climb beyond 1,300°C. At these temperatures, wood ash melts onto the clay to form a natural glaze, revealing a palette of soft greys, ochres, reds and olive greens found throughout the Cornish landscape. Some vessels also carry the mark of a scallop shell, where they rested during firing.