Noor Jones
Pottery by Noor
England



Instagram: @potterybynoor


Artist StatementI’m Noor, I produce ceramic pieces that are durable and functional, decorating them using Arabic words. My product is refined, but its purpose is for everyday use and touch. Each piece is intimate and unique, with the addition of subtle surface textures and lingering marks that are captured in the throwing process. I throw with high-fired stoneware clay, predominately using the potters wheel, making simple forms.


Studio Description
The pottery workshop is a purpose-built creative space designed to support the full ceramic process. It features dedicated rooms for throwing, glazing, and firing, ensuring an efficient and well-organised workflow. An additional room is reserved for teaching and for showcasing finished pieces, providing a structured environment for instruction, presentation, and creative exchange. The workshop balances functionality with craftsmanship, offering a focused setting for both production and education.

What type of clay do you use?
Stoneware

What temperature do you fire to?
Cone 6 or 7, mid-range temprature

What is your primary forming method?
Throwing on the wheel

What is your favorite surface treatment?
During the leather-hard stage, I carefully trim and polish each piece to refine its form and surface. Once this process is complete, I sign the work before the first firing. I then stamp my pieces with inspirational Arabic words.

What one word would you use to describe your work?
Distinctive

What is your favorite thing about your studio?
My wheel

What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
My wheel

What are your top three studio wishes?
My three greatest wishes for the studio are for it to grow into a community atelier where people can come together to learn the craft of pottery, to become a welcoming space for like-minded individuals to meet, share ideas, and connect through ceramics, and to serve as a place where my work can be admired and purchased. I hope the studio becomes successful and well known in my town as a creative home for pottery—a place people naturally think of when they want to learn, experience, or enjoy ceramic art.

What’s on your current reading list?
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

How do you save money on materials and supplies?
I save money by carefully weighing my clay and by reclaiming both clay and glaze to reduce waste.

How do you recharge creatively?
I recharge creatively through weekly walks in nature, listening to inspiring podcasts, or allowing myself time to work in complete silence.

Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
Keep throwing, trimming, glazing, and firing areas separate, so work flows in one direction, and limit decision fatigue by working with a small, consistent glaze palette.

What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
One of the challenges I have set for myself is to explore alternative glazing options and deepen my understanding of the chemistry behind the glazing process.

What did your first piece look like?
I still have my first three pinched bowls, small pieces made from terra cotta and glazed in turquoise. I display them at home as decorative objects, and they hold a special place in my heart.

What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
My ceramic superpower would be to create pieces that captivate through their glazes—glossy, smooth, and flawless surfaces that enhance the form and make each piece visually striking.

What area of skill do you most look to other artists to learn?
It depends on what I’m looking for at that moment, but mostly I focus on how they throw—the techniques they use and the movement of their hands at the wheel. Observing these details gives me insight into their process and approach to pottery.

Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
Hideko Honma, because I hope to develop the same patience and calm in my craft that she embodies. She is a successful potter, admired in her community.

What is on your studio playlist?
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Why do you create art?
For me, creating art is a spiritual practice. Working with clay allows me to slow down, focus completely, and connect with something deeper—each piece becomes a reflection of intention, presence, and the quiet moments that inspire me.

Who is your favorite artist and what do you admire about that artist?
Frida Kahlo because she embraced who she truly was, without compromise. I admire how her sense of self shines through everything she did—her style, her life, and her art.

What is your best studio tip?
Be intentional with your materials and your workflow—measure, reclaim, and organise everything so you can focus on creating, experimenting, and learning without distraction.

If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
To make it more forgiving—so I could push the limits of form and detail without fear of it collapsing or cracking.

 

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