Although originally from Cheshire, Mike Parry now lives in South East Wales, making functional slipware pottery by hand. His chosen clay is red earthenware, which he hand-throws on a potter’s wheel, decorates using slips, glazes, and fires in an electric kiln to 1100C. He follows this meticulous process to capture a sense of movement and spontaneity, adding character while emphasising the natural quality of the materials. For inspiration, he looks high and low, keeping an eye on contemporary ceramics while also  looking to the past – particular points of interest include medieval pottery, post-war British studio pottery and 18th-century English slipware.