The Old Post Office, Cilycwm, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK

Earlier this year I visited the home and studio of potter Tim Lake in Cilycwm, Carmarthenshire. Set at the end of his garden and surrounded by open valley landscape, the studio is shaped by years of making.

Tim works primarily in stoneware. Alongside slab-built pieces, much of his work is thrown and turned on a slow-turning kick wheel. Rooted in everyday function, his ceramics are enriched by an openness to variation and chance. There is a focus on how clay and glaze respond to heat and atmosphere, with surfaces retaining a softness that allows the character of the material to remain present.

The kiln, built by Tim and fired to high temperatures using a combination of gas and wood, plays a central role in shaping each piece. Glazes and clay bodies incorporate local, unrefined materials, and pots are positioned carefully to engage with the movement of flame. These choices allow the firing to leave visible traces, marking each object with the conditions of its making.

The studio reflects this approach: practical and closely connected to the rhythms of family life. His home, a beautiful old village post office, is filled with his ceramics and the work of his partner Rosie, who works in glass and textiles. Visiting Tim’s home and studio offered insight into his aim: to make pots that are functional, responsive to material, and shaped by place.

VIEW THE COLLECTION