Giles Headley

I took up pottery (and woodturning) in 2013 as something creative to do, having worked in the gas industry for 20 years as a multidisciplinary design draughtsman and civil engineer. I joined an evening class at my former secondary school in Leicestershire, taught by former MPA member Steve Thompson. My interest had been piqued after attending a raku weekend run by Mark Ilsley, near Rugby, in 2008.

My main making method is throwing, but in class I also enjoyed producing vessels using more complex techniques like multi-layer slip casting. I quit regular employment in March 2020. Now that I have my own pottery studio space with Knighton Lane Artists Group in Leicester I want to try slab building as well as improve my throwing.

A member of MPA since 2016, I am now the Association’s treasurer and organiser of our pit firing events.