Steven James Will lives and works amongst the expansive wildness of the Suffolk Coast. The constant change of the south Suffolk estuaries, their salt marshes, dead-end roads, forests and heaths inspire and contribute to Steven’s colour palette as he includes natural materials (mud, clay, coralline crag and wood ash) to decorate his thrown and cast porcelain. Further anchoring locality and the maker’s touch, Steven frequently grates rust from his studio’s yard into glazes, which has a simultaneously pleasing visual effect.

Having worked with ceramics for over ten years, Steven’s journey started when he studied in evening classes before enrolling in an art foundation in Brighton and later a ceramics diploma at City Lit in London. From this, Steven has developed an equally poetic and functional style informed by his affinity to immerse his craft within the local landscape.

We started working with Steven on a commission to create a set of cups which we used in collaboration with Workshop Coffee. Steven worked closely alongside Richard of Workshop to make the most beautiful coffee cups that are not only inspired by the land but also by the alchemy of coffee making itself. Since then, Steven has generously supplied us with a range of tableware and homeware.

Steven is one of the most romantic people we know. His affinity with nature is really quite magical.