Ceramic artist, educator, and creative consultant
Helen’s practice spans over three decades of making, teaching and mentoring within ceramic arts and industry. Known for her playfulness, precision and deep material understanding, she works across art, education, and consultancy, helping others unlock their own ideas through process and connections.
Her ceramic artwork explores the relationships between plaster, porcelain, and surface — combining technical skill with a curiosity for how materials record time, touch, and transformation.
In teaching, Helen blends experimentation with technical skill, encouraging curiosity, conversation, and hands-on learning.
“ Three decades of working hands-on with clay, plaster, and porcelain — teaching, consulting, and experimenting along the way "
Some words about me…
I’ve always loved materials and experimenting, seeing what you can make from whatever you have to hand. In my childhood, I made my own clay substitute from flour and water, used scraps of found materials. That resourcefulness never left me. I’m still hands-on, practical, a problem solver, and always up for trying something new.
My path into clay was part rebellion, part instinct. I took an evening pottery class while studying Maths and Sciences for A-Level, mostly to escape all the academic logic. When I discovered plaster and mould-making, something just clicked. The idea that you could make your own tool and shape a form - it felt like magic.
I first trained in ceramics in the 1990s, learning the discipline of model and mould making and how to balance precision with play. After years of making, teaching and running Yoyo Ceramics, I returned to study for my MA at the Royal College of Art, which gave me space to re-examine my practice, to see how traditional craft and contemporary thinking could sit side by side.
Now my work moves between plaster and porcelain, surface and structure, art and design. I cast, colour, and construct, often exploring what happens in the space between control and chance.
Teaching runs alongside my studio practice. I love problem-solving with others, showing them possibilities, helping them work things out through making, see others be excited by process.
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2025
Worshipful Company of Plaisterers
Invited Freeman Member2024
Be Still Media
Winner - Prompt 23 People’s Choice for Inside Out, USA2023
Blanc De Chine International Ceramic Art Award
Shortlisted - China2022
Hari Art Prize
Shortlisted - A Space for Art, UK2020
Heritage Crafts Association
Finalist - Presidential Award for Endangered Crafts, UK
Zsuzsi Roboz Scholarship
2 years - Artist award for developing work at Morley Waterloo.Gallery exhibition 2021
2018
Franz Rising Star - Winner
Awarded for works in porcelain, TaiwanAnglo Swedish Society
Scholarship - Konstfack School of Art & Design residency, Stockholm
2017
Bloomberg X Fosters & Partners X RCA
Finalist - New HQ Installation competition -
2026
Paul Mellon Centre - 4 wall based works selected for the Studies in British Art spring exhibition.2025
Londons Knowledge Quarter -Commissioned works by New Public for permanent collection at 1 Triton Square, Euston.2024
Blanc de Chine ICAA 2023-24 shortlisted artist exhibitor, Hangzhou China.
Ceramic Art London Olympia London, curated by the CPA2023
H.O.P 2023, London, curated by Preston Fitzgerald2022
Leave the Road. Take the Trail Xenia Artist in Residency Show, Hampshire
Powder. Bone. Cloud AH Studio, London
Material Matters Oxo Barge house , London, curated by Grant Gibson,2021
Figuratively Speaking Zsuzsi Roboz Scholarship, Morley Gallery, London
2019
British Ceramics Biennale Spode Factory Works, Stoke on Trent, UK2018
European Ceramic Context 2018 Grønbechs Gaard, Bornholm, Denmark
Make, Shift, Collyer Bristow Gallery, London2017
Biophilia III Elements KI Europe, London
Dark Side of the Moon Hexagon Design Classic, London
Affordable Art Fair Stockholm Gas Gallery, Stockholm
The Emerging and the Established Christie’s Auction House, London -
Central St Martins School of Art, Kings X London, 2021- ongoing
Associate Lecturer Ceramic Design BaHonsInstituto Marangoni, Fashion St, London 2025- ongoing
Guest Lecturer Design BaHonsMorley College London, 2018 -2022
Senior Tutor Ceramics HND (0.4)The Kiln Rooms, Peckham 2018-2020
Ceramics Teacher Short Courses/Specialist Workshop Delivery
Middlesex University, 2018-2020
Visiting Lecturer, Craft & Design BA HonsRegents University London, 2011- 2015
Course Leader (acting) - Creative Industries BA HonsRegents Business School London, 2006-2011
Module Leader - Global Management, Design Management BA Hons Subjects taught: Creative Behaviour, Innovation, Creativity and the EntrepreneurBuckinghamshire University College, 1999-2006
Visiting Lecturer - Multidisciplinary 3D Design BA Hons
Project Tutor - Contemporary Furniture BA Hons
Subjects taught: Casting and Moulding -
2026
Imagin Lighting
Large scale porcelain chandelier installation, private commission2025
Montcalm Hotel Mayfair
2.5 x 1.5m hand carved plaster mural with Petra Børner, installed as reception foyer feature pieceJonathan Baldock
Production moulds for ceramic elements for Wyrd, Jupiters Ballroom Gallery2024
Soho House hotels
70 bespoke handmade lamp bases for TLF London2023
Kettles Yard Artists Buttons
Development and production for Jonathan Andersen & Rana BegumRoe Restaurant, Canary Wharf
Coral plaster wall installation for Fab Pub2021
Virgin Voyages
Porcelain Sculpture Installation, The Wake Restaurant for Volume Creative -
Arts4 Dementia, SET Social, Peckham 2026
Weekly creative clay workshops held at SET Social clubArtist in Residence, China, 2025
Menlo Studio Jingdezhen, professional practitioner and workshop leader
Arts4 Dementia, Cockpit London, 2024
Creative workshops held at Cockpit Studios London
Turquoise Mountain Charity, Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, 2020
Ceramic specialist/workshop delivery
Centrepoint, London, 2019 - 2020
Volunteer Ceramic workshops for evening social group 16-24 yrs old
Crafts Council Make Your Future, London, 2017 -2019
Specialist Educator, London secondary schools
ReachOut RCA X Westminster Academy, London, 2017
Digital ceramic/print workshopsCultural Exchange Work, British Council, 2013 & 2014
Handmade Chiang Mai Project, Thailand, devising and delivery of Business and Creative workshops, Vietnam
Consultancy/Mentoring
UAL Professional Alumni Mentoring ongoing since 2019
British Ceramics Biennial Talent Development Mentor, 2024
Ladies Who L-Earn, Hackney, Voluntary Mentor
Prince Trust Creative Start Up Mentor -
Education
MA Ceramics & Glass, Royal College of Art, London, 2015-2017
PGCertHE, Buckinghamshire University, 2001
Ceramics and Jewellery BA Hons Middlesex University, 1991-1995
Ceramics & Material Skills
Yoyo Ceramics, Founder, 1998-2016
Designer, maker, manufacture management, licensing, consultant, freelance model and mould makerShepperton Film Studios Model maker, 1997-1999
Lost in space, The New Avengers, Entrapment: sculpting, casting, modelling.CP Ceramics, London Professional model and mould maker, 1995-1997
Various clients including Sebastian Conran and Habitat