About us

Stamford Pottery Market Committee

Tony Orvis - Potter and Venue Liaison

Tony is more of a ceramic artist than a potter. He loves surface texture and interest in a pot; the more ‘arty’ the better! He also paints and is an accomplished printer, which all clearly feed into his work. 

In the SPM team he is currently the potter coordinator and in charge of event bookings. So, for the first point of contact, message Tony. If he doesn’t reply immediately it’s probably because he’s outside throwing his newly made pot against a wall to give it more character.

Fiona Swepson - Social Media

Fiona Swepson  is the final introduction of the SPM team and is in charge of social media for the market. That’s why she made all the others go first - it’s one of the perks! 

Fiona works in porcelain and stoneware clays and likes to make functional pieces that can be used every day. 

Following on from a career as a primary school teacher, Fiona runs pottery classes at Unique Cottage Studios in Spalding; which is where she started her pottery journey/ obsession back in 2013 in one of Tony Orvis’ evening classes.

To find out more about Fiona and her work, please visit  https://www.hopscotchpottery.com/ and follow @hopscotchpottery on Facebook and Instagram.

Jen Callow

Jen works with porcelain to make mostly white pots and ceramic tiles with subtle surface design. When she’s not in the studio she is teaching mindful meditation and compassion or working for Phil, delivering the fun and arty side of I.T. to primary school children. Being curious and trying to bring a sense of playfulness to every one of her jobs keeps her days interesting. 

When you join us for the Stamford Pottery Market, either as an exhibitor or a visitor, Jen will be on hand to help you in any way she can. Covid permitting, she will be responsible for making sure the organising committee and potters are supported with lots of tea, cake and maybe the odd meditation practice!

To see some of her lovely work, please visit https://www.dizzystudios.co.uk/

Phil Callow - IT

Phil is the only non-potter of the group but what he lacks in potting skills he more than makes up for in computer genius and is in charge of all the IT and website.

Phil is married to Jen who has tried to get him on the wheel but he prefers to strap himself to a snowboard and throw himself down mountains. 

Pam Orme - Publications and Marketing

Pam has handled the publicity for the Pottery Market, working alongside Katherine Winfrey, for the past 10 years and is continuing to work with the new team.

She started potting around 30 years ago at an evening class as light entertainment from her daily commute to London. This quickly developed into a passionate interest that she returned to after retiring 12 years ago & now has her own studio at home. 

Friends & family (particularly her Grandsons) enjoy playing with clay & she has also run voluntary workshops for a Dementia Support Group which her first pottery teacher attended. 

She creates ornaments and vessels largely inspired by nature. Mushrooms are a constant feature and rock pools inspire her starfish, seashells, crabs & the odd octopus!

She uses both earthenware and stoneware and prefers to hand build - though she does own a wheel that she really needs to learn how to use!

History of the pottery market

Just over 11 years ago, potter Katherine Winfrey founded the Stamford Pottery Market. She had a vision that a market could be held which would showcase the diverse range of work being produced by local potters, and use the proceeds to support local charitable causes. After a great deal of hard work, the market found a home in the Stamford Arts Centre, proving a great success every year until the Covid-19 pandemic caused a pause. 

Katherine has handed over the organisation of the event to a committee of potters, who hope to build on her legacy. After some challenges, we were delighted to bring the Pottery Market back to the Stamford Arts Centre in 2021. We were so well supported by visitors we held two markets in 2022, and this created the opportunity to have more potters exhibit their work across the two events. As the market evolves, we continue to focus on Katherine’s original mandate to raise awareness of local potters and support worthy causes with the proceeds.