Jo Taylor

Ceramicist

©Russell Sach

The delight is in the detail

Jo is a ceramic artist and teacher specialising in detailed sculpture
Ornamentation in architecture is her primary inspiration
She was the winner of AWARD at the 2025 British Ceramics Biennial

Ornamentation is central to Jo Taylor’s ceramics. She aims to emulate the freedom of expression found in Rococo architecture while giving her ceramic pieces a contemporary flair. "I love to mix techniques, rather than sticking to a single one," she says. Jo masters hand building, extrusion, sprigging and wheel throwing techniques, and she only fires her objects once, as she keeps her works unglazed. The detailing of her creations is where she develops her artistic expression. Jo has a master's degree in ceramics from Bath Spa University and is member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors. In 2025, her work was selected and awarded at the British Ceramics Biennial.

Interview

What are your sources of inspiration?: I am inspired by ornamentation in architecture, particularly the Rococo period. Other influences include Wedgwood, Piranesi’s etchings, and objects seen in museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Wallace Collection.
How do tradition and innovation intertwine in your work?: I use techniques such as throwing, extrusion, handbuilding, coiling and sprigging, which are traditional. Then, I combine them to create objects that are new and curious. Also, the sculptural vessel is a recurring object with a great scope.
When and how did you actually start?: I became a full-time professional in 2005 after graduating with a ceramics degree from Bath Spa University. I began teaching ceramics alongside exhibiting and selling my work. During my degree studies, I built an extension to my kitchen, which allowed for a small studio space.
Do you remember when you first thought of picking up this craft?: I signed up for evening classes in 1991 at what later became the University of the West of England in Bristol. The first work I made in the evening class was a thrown cylinder to be a mug. What had been a hobby for some years gradually took over until it became my full-time activity.

Jo Taylor is a master artisan: she began her career in 2005 and she started teaching in 2005