A collector in the USA

by Sarah Monk | Aug 26, 2026 | News

A wonderful collaboration: from maker, to gallery, to collector

I first started supplying Contempoary Ceramics Gallery, London many moons ago (actually over three decades!). I became a selected member of The Craft Potters Association (the gallery represents the work of it’s members) in my first year of business in 1994! Two of the gallery curators, Marta & Claire were there when I exhibited my work for the first time and they’re still there…. how amazing is that!

With my long standing relationship with Contemporary Ceramics I didn’t hesitate to contact them when I received this heart warming email from Marie….

“I saw your work at Contemporary Ceramics in London and loved it. I bought a flower brick which was the only thing small enough to transport in a back pack to the US. I really admired your butter dish and see that you had a beautiful teal one at Waterperry Gardens.”

I LOVE the thought of my flower brick having safe passage across the pond in Marie’s hand luggage! Just wonderfull!! Anyway the email coninues…..

“It would be wonderful if you could make one for me. I love the colours and design of the flowers and dots and just everything about the Waterperry one. If you could replicate that I would be grateful, but I know art is not always the same, so no worries. I not only now have the small flower brick I brought home from Contemporary Ceramics in my backpack, but they were able to ship me the incredible Egg Cup Holder you made as my husband’s Christmas present to me. It is my favourite thing ever!”

Marie continues to tell me that she grew up in England and remembers having boiled egg with soldiers. She has always loved egg cup holders and says mine is the Queen of her collection! *see the pic below, I’m holding it in my studio before it went off to London.

Wow! What a wonderful email, how could I refuse. As luck would have it, I was soon to be sending more work to the gallery. With a chat to Martha, Claire and the team at Contemporary Ceramics, we arranged that I would send Marie’s butterdish to London, along with my latest consignment. They would then arrange for it to be shipped to Marie. They did such a great job sending my egg cup holder, I knew it was in safe hands. Perfect!

A hand made ceramic flower brick in sun yellow decorated with brown sgraffito flowers flowers. Made by Sarah Monk Ceramics displayed holding fresh white daisies, white chrysanthemum and pink cyclamen.

Sarah Monk standing in her studio at eastnor pottery holding a yellow box egg cup holder containing 4 eggcups.

Clay fower frog teapot in the wet cly making stage. It has a lid with holes pierced in to hold flowers. The teapot is on the worktable in Eastnor Pottery, the studio of Sarah Monk Ceramics

And when it arrived…

“I just wanted to let you know that the butter dish arrived this week and I returned home and opened it yesterday. I am absolutely over the moon–it is even more beautiful than the photo suggested! Contemporary Ceramics did a fantastic job of wrapping it (I was holding my breathe when I opened it) and made the whole process so easy. I also ordered the sweet pink flower brick with dots and it is just lovely. Thank you so much for sticking with this whole odyssey and making this happen. I will keep following your work, wherever it takes you!”

Thank you so much for the fabulous feedback Marie… it has been a pleasure. A special thanks to Contemporary Ceramics for organising this so seamlessly! Teamwork makes the dreamwork as they say.

Close up detail of the lid of a teal rectangular butterdish. There's an etched terracotta flower design on the side with a terracotta handle with white dots.

A pink rectangular flower brick with painted dark brown dots, containing a bunch of fresh forget-me-nots

Summer Stockists 2026

Contemporary Ceramics – a collection from espressos cups to large flower bricks

Tinsmiths – A curated collection of flowerbricks in two colourways: white sgraffito flowers and yellow dots.

The Gallery at Waterperry Gardens – a joyful selection of dotty flower bricks in an assortment of colours.

Eastnor Pottery – Herefordshire Art Week, Open Studios 5th – 13th September. We are open daily between 10am & 5pm.

More work to Contemporary Ceramics Autumn 2026

I’m sending another consignment to Contemporary Ceramics, Great Russel Street, London this October 2026. Flower bricks, plates and fruit punnets. This will be in readiness to be photographed and added their website in readiness for Christmas. In the meantime, please take a look at the Contemporary Ceramics online where you will find some of my wheel thrown jugs and juicers.

Best wishes,

Sarah x

Contemporary Ceramics Centre, London

by Sarah Monk | Jul 3, 2021 | News

During May 2021 I sent some new designs to Contemporary Ceramics Centre, 63 Great Russel Street London. My slipware bowls, plates and cups are part of their summer dining range. It’s been beautifully photographed for their alfresco dining promotion.

Run by the Craft Potter’s Association, of which I’ve been a selected member since 1994. It’s the only retail gallery in the whole of London that is dedicated purely to ceramics. It’s well worth a visit!

work in progress studio shot of slipware bt Sarah Monk Ceramics

terracotta clay pots waiting to be decorated with slip in the studio of sarah monk ceramics

slab built butterdish work in progress in the studio of sarah monk ceramics

work in progress studio shot of slipware bowls decorated with bold brown dots by sarah monk ceramics

slab built olive plate work in progress with cobalt splatters

Emerging Potters Magazine.

by Sarah Monk | Apr 17, 2020 | inspiration, News, Pottery Studio Life

I’ve been featured in a lovely online magazine! It’s called Emerging Potters and contains 35 pages of ceramic artists, gallery news and book reviews. Paul Bailey, the editor asked me six questions: how I got into ceramics, a bit about Eastnor Pottery, my influences, where I sell, how do I use social media and my observations of how pottery has changed in the last 5 years. Paul has put my answers into a beautifully wriiten three page article.

The feature can be found in the April to June copy, Issue 14 . The magazine is produced quarterly on the ISSUU platform. Paul is very happy to send a copy if you email: paulbailey123@googlemail.com

You can also follow Emerging Potters on Instagram here!

Paul has also asked for some extra images of my work to write an article for Clay Craft Magazine. Thanks Paul!!!!

Ceramic Rabbit in Puzzle Wood.

by Sarah Monk | Apr 17, 2020 | News, Outside

Making ceramic bunnies is not my usual bag I admit, but when Helen, from Puzzle Wood put a call out to local Potters to contribute to her Rabbit trail I couldn’t resist! Puzzle Wood is a magical ancient woodland in the Forest of Dean. It’s a great place to explore with the kids, as we have done many times with our own and is a popular TV and film location. Helen’s idea was to launch a kid’s trail over the usually busy Easter weekend.

I started making my contribution back in February, deciding to hand coil it. A technique I never ever use, but thought it would be fun to do something different. I used terracotta clay because it has a deep, earthy colour very fitting for a rich, earthy forest. Once built, I covered the whole rabbit in white slip and then scratched into it with simplified flowers and splatters of cobalt blue. I wanted it to be blue & white; a classic ceramic pallet that would stand out against a backdrop of forest green.

Unfortunately because of the pandemic, Puzzle Wood closed to the public. Helen decided to continue her plans in a different way and turned it into The Great Virtual Puzzle Wood Easter Trail!! Available to view on their Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages.

There’s a colouring competition too, with lots of great prizes, including a couple from us here at Eastnor Pottery!