Rachel Downey
Rachel (Rae) Downey is an independent potter who approached the PMI for help to boost her skills to help her small business. In 2022, the PMI supported Rachel to join a skills course at Loveclay.
“Since joining the throwing course at Love Clay, I have gone from a complete beginner who had never thrown anything before to being inspired by a love of pottery to start up my own small ceramics business. On my most recent 5-week course I have expanded my skills further and pushed myself to attempt teapots, something that I had tried on my own before but to no success and something that was a little daunting to me.
Update
In the two years since attending the throwing course, Rae has become an established potter in her own right. First, acquiring a studio in the grounds of the historic Spode Works to run her successful pottery business from. In the last six months, Rae has herself gone on to teach throwing courses at the Love Clay studio, helping to pass on throwing skills to another generation of potters!