About me
Hi, I’m Ola. I’m a ceramist based on the east coast of Ireland. I make small-batch tableware, home decor, and jewellery by hand—slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of love for the process. My pieces are rooted in everyday rituals and inspired by the sea, the beauty of the imperfect, and the quiet joy of things made to last.
Each mug, bowl, or wall piece I create carries a bit of where I live—the sandy textures, the muted tones, the rhythm of the coastline. My work isn’t about perfection, it’s about feeling. About creating objects that feel good in your hands and feel like home.
My Journey
My story
Ceramics weren’t always my plan, but they were always quietly waiting for me.
I used to collect handmade pieces from second-hand shops and markets, fascinated by their textures and stories. Years later, a simple gift – a voucher for a pottery class – changed everything. I fell in love with clay: its softness, its unpredictability, the way it holds memory.
That love led me to leave my job and dive in properly. I studied craft for three years, exploring ceramics, metalwork and printmaking. Somewhere along the way, a decision has been made. And now, I run my studio, nestled in the grounds of Ardgillan Castle.
Today, I make ceramics full time – for people, for places, for those who want objects that are both useful and soulful.
My Journey
Achievements
Building a creative business takes time – and a lot of coffee. Along the way, I’ve been lucky to receive some recognition that means a great deal to me. Each award and exhibition has been a little reminder that the quiet, handmade path is worth walking.
Awards
2025 – Winner, ‘Home’ Category, Irish Made Awards (Irish Country Magazine)
2025 – Finalist, Women in eCommerce Award, Irish eCommerce Awards
2025 – Finalist, ‘Home’ Category, Showcase Ireland
2024 – Finalist, ‘Start Up/New Business’, Business Excellence Awards (Fingal Chamber of Commerce)
2024 – Handmade Ceramics Artist of the Year (ROI), The Perfect Gift Awards (LuxLife Magazine)
2024 – Highly Commended, ‘Gift’ Category, Irish Made Awards (Irish Country Magazine)
2024 – Overall Winner, ‘Local Enterprise Office’ category, Showcase Ireland
2023 – Finalist, ‘Start Up/New Business’, Business Excellence Awards (Fingal Chamber of Commerce)
2023 – Finalist, ‘Home’ Category, Irish Made Awards (Irish Country Magazine)
2023 – Finalist, Future Makers Awards, Design & Craft Council of Ireland
Exhibitions
2024 – ‘Clay/Works’, Ceramics Ireland Members Exhibition, Farmleigh (Cowshed Gallery)
2023 – ‘Mother Earth – a selection of plates’, Strule Arts Centre
2023 – ‘Clay/Works’, Ceramics Ireland Members Exhibition, Dublin Castle
2022 – ‘Clay/Works’, Ceramics Ireland Members Exhibition, Dublin Castle
Each of these moments felt like a quiet “yes” to following my instincts, to making things slowly, and to letting the work speak for itself.
My Journey
Process
I work mainly in handbuilding and slipcasting, using a stoneware clay that already holds so much character – sandy, speckled, and warm. Most of my forms are simple, but full of surface detail. I love leaving fingerprints, textures and tool marks visible. Just like the coastline, clay records everything that touches it.
I make everything in small batches. Pieces are shaped, dried slowly, bisque-fired, glazed, and fired again. It’s a long process, but I’ve learned to trust the timing. No rushing – just presence and patience. Some days it works out perfectly. Some days, the kiln surprises me. Either way, I learn something. I love that each piece has its own character – like my mugs are sometimes a little wonky, but that’s the beauty of handmade ceramics. It’s this perfectly imperfect quality that makes each item unique and full of life.
Sustainability is central to how I work. I recycle all my clay, reuse packaging from my local community, and keep waste to a minimum.
My Vision
I want to make objects that feel good to use and good to live with. Things you reach for every morning. Things that carry texture, memory, and presence. I believe that everyday rituals – your morning coffee, setting the table, lighting a candle – deserve beautiful tools.
My pieces are designed to feel grounding and intentional. They’re not meant to be precious – they’re meant to be part of your life.
My vision is not about growth for the sake of it—it’s about deepening. Learning. Creating meaningful work that lasts.
Let’s Create Together
I’m so glad you’re here, and I’d love to hear from you. If something has caught your eye or sparked a question, feel free to get in touch. Every piece I create starts with a connection.
Let’s bring something beautiful into the world – one cup, bowl or plate at a time.
My Goals
I want my work to keep evolving — slowly, thoughtfully, and always with care.
I’m building something that lasts, both in form and feeling. That means staying true to my materials, making with intention, and resisting the pressure to speed things up or make more just for the sake of it. Growth is important to me, but not if it comes at the cost of joy or connection.
I want my studio to remain a place of curiosity. A space where I can keep experimenting, take small creative risks, and leave room for play. That same sense of freedom I had when I first fell in love with clay — I want to keep it close, even now.
I hope to deepen my relationships with stockists and customers, to build a community around shared values: of craftsmanship, sustainability, and slowing down. I’d love to teach more in the future, too, to open up the process and invite others in.
And perhaps most of all, I want to keep making things that feel real — pieces that are full of texture and story, that quietly hold space in someone’s day and make it feel a little softer, a little more grounded.