Behind the work of Colin Kellam lies more than forty years of experience in the making of studio pottery. From the outset his intention has been to produce a range of domestic ware which would fulfil the criteria of practicability, durability and attractiveness at a reasonable price, each piece having its own individuality whilst remaining part of a cohesive whole. This ideal has been upheld and developed over a period of thirty years at the Lion Brewery. The creative input of the workforce has always been encouraged: people are at liberty to make their own experiments with form, glaze and decoration. Trials are fired in every kiln.
On the making front, Colin and his second-in-command thrower are backed-up by an assistant producing the rampressed and extruded ware such as lampbases, umbrella stands, tiles, planters, cooking vessels and slabbed serving dishes. These mechanically made pieces are given their stamp of originality by the nature of the decoration.
The decorative themes are based chiefly upon the natural world, featuring floral, bird, fish and animal drawings; additionally, complex geometric patterning inspired by ancient Islamic and European tiles is applied to flatware.

more....History on Kellam Pottery

In recent years the popularity of farmyard creatures has been paramount on standard ware, whilst on larger individual pieces and commemorative items more unusual representations such as parrots, macaws, dragons, horses and crustaceans are featured. With a team of four decorators, all of whom are trained from the beginning in Japanese Sumi painting and are enjoined to study the historical sequence of decorative ceramic traditions of worldwide cultures, a varied and exuberant output results.

Alongside the basic domestic pottery, Colin pursues his personal interest in sculptural work; there are great demands for his larger-than-life birds - cockerels, geese, a variety of ducks, parrots - also for fish, lobsters and crabs and for more complex commissioned pieces such as tables, fountains, and bizarre, sometimes macabre objects.
The pottery is fired to a high temperature (1320°C) in a large oil-fuelled kiln. Natural pigments are employed in the decorating process, predominantly iron, cobalt, chrome and manganese applied over an ash glaze; the striking red is a vitreous slip which goes onto the unfired ware and is revealed in the firing by a wax-resist technique. The pottery is oven and microwave proof, dishwasher safe and no toxicity is released from either clay body, glazes or colours: the Health & Safety inspectorate carries out annual checks.
All Sculptures are weather and even frost proof.