Watergaw Ceramics home is in the former Methodist Church in Whitehills. I am the resident designer/maker, my name is Fiona Duckett and this is where I create my iridescent ceramics, all glazed with a unique glaze called 'In Glaze Reduction Lustre'.
The Pottery has a shop but this is currently shut as Lustreware is definitely not essential, lovely but not strictly speaking necessary. I will continue to create and will look forward to seeing all of you, my lovely customers and visitors, when things return to normal - stay safe and well everyone. Fingers crossed this should be in April - but I will keep you updated.
Through my website I aim to give you a feel of the range of products that I design and make at Watergaw Ceramics in Whitehills. There will be more to follow, technical glitches both of the making and publishing on line not withstanding!
When you are making In Glaze Reduction Lustre ware you are said to be chasing the rainbow - trying to capture all the colours of the rainbow in your glazes. Watergaw is ancient scot for a partial or incomplete rainbow and when I came across the word in a poem by Hugh McDiarmid called 'After the Watergaw' - I knew this was the name for my pottery. Follow the link to read the poem - if you are interested! https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46792/the-watergaw
My making journey started really young when my Granny Mac taught me to crochet before I was 5 - I featured in a film about creativity in primary schools but thankfully (or sadly) this does not exist anymore! Before Clay (BC) I would have said I was definitely a textile person - sewing, knitting, crochet, and tapestry, but when I sat on a potter's wheel for the first time and made a pot I was hooked! I worked for two different potters in St Andrews - George Young and then Anne Lightwood. Anne encouraged me to go to University as a mature student and a Degree ( BDes(hons) at DJCA in Dundee) and a Masters (MA at Grays RGU Aberdeen) later I established Watergaw Ceramics in 2000 opening my shop and pottery in the Old Methodist Church in 2003 - quite a journey!
There are 3 types of Lustre glazes, Clay paste, resin and 'In Glaze' reduction Lustre which was developed over 2000 years ago to get around a religious ban on eating off Gold plates - the potters at the time were asked to develop a glaze that would mimic gold! All of them use metal salts to create the lustrous effect but have very different ways of applying and firing.
Watergaw Ceramics will hopefully be opening it's doors as part of North East Open Studios from the 11th - 19th September 2021. Check back after the end of March to find out who will be sharing my space this year!
One of the most fascinating things about 'In Glaze Reduction Lustre' is that Silver is put in to the glazes to get gold - it's almost alchemy! Other metals are also added to get other colours but Bismuth is the one that helps with the iridescence.
It's truly special to create pieces that other people love. Press on the camera icon to take you to the gallery of some of our customers photos showing their treasured Watergaw Ceramics pieces in their new homes, please feel free to send yours using Contact Us. Thank you
The Gallery contains images of Ceramics that have been made at Watergaw - the 'In Glaze Reduction Lustre' journey is endless. 25 years down the road the search for a rich dark purple and a fabulous dark green goes on. I get more amazing coppers, and blues and make fantastic friends along the way as I discuss what is still very much a dark art with anyone who will listen and share knowledge! If you see something you fancy then contact me and I can send you the most up to date images I have for the piece that intrigues you. For a larger view please click on the image - I do hope you enjoy!
All the pieces that you see here are glazed with just one of my lustre glazes. The tiny single lustre bowls - when they ...
This Album contains pieces with more than one of my 'In Glaze Reduction Lustre' glazes on them. I started making these i...
Most of my work is created using White Earthenware as colour response is much better on a white surface - think of paint...
The 'In Glaze Reduction Lustre' glazes that I have developed over the last 25 years are very fluid - which I love and ex...
I never expected to make jewellery when I started my potting life as Watergaw Ceramics, but my 'In Glaze Reduction Lustr...
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