Tell us a bit about Hello Shan Studio
Hello, my name is Shirley Payton from Hello Shan Studio. I’m a designer/maker currently making pottery. I studied Graphic Design with my favourite part of the practice being illustration. When I started taking evening pottery classes a few years ago, and loved the process of making in clay, I decided I could combine both illustration and pottery!
Tell us more about your studio and ways of working
I’m inspired by mid-century and folk design, with colours and themes that are bright and bold. I also often use flat colours and simple, repeating shapes – much like patterns on fabric. I use the surface of the clay as a piece of paper or canvas. I tend to use slips and underglazes on my pottery which is applied with various size brushes, mainly on white stoneware and white porcelain. All my work is hand painted individually so there are slight differences even though two items have the same design. I make my ceramics from a community studio called Kiln in Cambridge. It’s a fantastic space to learn and share interests with other potters and makers.
What inspired your range in the Kettle’s Yard Shop? Why did you want to collaborate with us?
I wanted to visually communicate the happiness the sun brings. The feeling one gets when the sun comes out and it brightens your day! I used porcelain clay for the sun range, which makes colours really vibrant and bright, which is perfect for this range.
I wanted to collaborate with Kettle’s Yard because the museum shop is a very warm and inviting space; a perfect space for my sun range! Kettle’s Yard is one of my favourite museums, and when I was asked to stock the shop with my sun range, I didn’t hesitate saying yes!
If you had to buy yourself a gift from the Kettle’s Yard shop, what would you choose?
I really like the Henri Gaudier-Brzeska dog models, which have been so beautifully captured – the balance and combination of soft lines and angles really appeals to me.
Shop Hello Shan Studio
Hello Shan Studio - The Sunshine Range
Handmade in Cambridge by Hello Shan Studio, each trinket dish is wheel-thrown and hand-painted, giving each a unique finish and characterful sunny smile. The sunshine decorations are cut by hand from rolled porcelain and hand-painted, giving each a unique look and characterful sunny smile. Everything is finished with a shiny clear glaze to give a durable finish.
