Meet Lotttie Tarpey. In the world of pottery and ceramics, there exists a fascinating realm where artistry intersects with function. Here, every curve of clay, every brushstroke of glaze, and every sprinkle of colour tells a story, whispers a memory, or evokes an emotion. Lottie, the mastermind behind Lotts Potts, occupies a unique space in this realm, fusing her extensive background in fashion and design with the time-honoured tradition of pottery.
Transitioning from a two-decade career spanning garment design, store display concepts, and global marketing projects, Lottie found solace and passion in the tactile world of ceramics just three years ago. Lotts Potts embodies her design ethos, producing modern tableware that is as visually captivating as it is functional. Every piece, whether embracing simple, clean lines or adorned with dimples and bumps, proudly wears a touch of 22K gold – a hallmark of luxury and testament to Lottie’s meticulous attention to detail.
Today, we dive deep into Lottie’s world. We’ll uncover the inspirations behind her creations, the challenges she faced in establishing her business, and her perspective on the evolving dynamics of consumer behaviour. Join us on this journey, and discover the woman behind the wheel, the artist behind the masterpiece, and the visionary redefining modern pottery.
Lottie Tarpey
Inspiriting, feminine, modern.
Spreading the word and reaching the right audience – broadening the following and gaining awareness as a small business. The initial audience and customer has been organic, and now the next level is finding the right events with the correct audience – that’s the bit that’s taking more time and planning.
Interestingly, I haven’t noticed people wanting to spend less. People are still happy to invest in pieces that bring them happiness and add value to their lives. However, there has to be perceived value; consumers are willing to spend, but the purchase needs to be worth it and a considered decision.
I would say, try and find your unique style – be brave. So many have turned their hand to crafts during the last few years, which encourages you to focus on enjoying what you do. However, there is a lot of competition with numerous potters and styles out there, so it’s crucial to carve out your own distinct look. Give people a reason to buy from you and come back – for me, it’s always about having the gold that ties Lotts Potts pieces together – using colour and gold.
I would say it’s two pieces I made recently using floral cutting. I recently went to a wedding and I wanted to make something special for the mother of the groom who is my cousin, incorporating my new details, but spending extra time manipulating the petals. It showed me how I can infuse more movement and life into my work. This is now an area I can explore going forward with new collections and I am excited to see where it goes creatively. There is something about making things for people you are close to and care about that brings out a different emotion when making.
Planning! When I glaze, I work on a bench with 100 pots ready to go, but I need to plan, plan, plan – the days of glazing need to be methodical. Challenging myself to keep moving on – as soon as I find a new detail I am working with, I want to see when it can go next.
The area I feel I am going into is a boutique/holiday vibe – I have recently found I am gaining quite a few new international eyes on my pieces from around the world, mainly holiday destinations. The mood my customer is in when they are buying is holiday and a treat – it’s not impulse buying but a relaxed, considered way. My personal customers go through a bespoke experience, which I feel happens more when traveling.
The V&A – the mix of old and new ceramics and ad hoc pop-ups.
Enjoy what you do – Having worked in Fashion for so long, which I loved at the time. However, when politics crept in towards the end, it became harder to enjoy my time at work. I felt my work suffer, and as a result, I now know how important it is to love every working day. If ever I feel studio spaces or collaborations are not working with the creative process, I walk away. You can have frustrating days when you are creating, but when you are making with your hands, it really imprints on your work. Make sure you are enjoying your craft and are happy with the space around you.
Massive – I don’t have a website and I really enjoy Instagram. My work has always had support locally, and that has grown with Instagram having a follow-on effect. I love the enquiries that come through new customers, and with social media, you can really share your development, the good days, and the bad days – the story of the brand.
Creating little landmarks internationally to be able to tell my story creatively and through the collections, sitting in inspirational boutiques and places next to inspirational collections – all part of inspiring shopping experiences sitting amongst inspiring things – connecting with a consciously appreciative consumer.
Literally the first time something broke and while figuring out how to fix it, I came across the technique. Then, when doing one of my bigger orders, 10 plates cracked during firing, and that same week at my local studio, there was a Kintsugi master class. It’s not for everyone and to do it is very hit and miss – it doesn’t always work – if anything is slightly uneven it wont always work. At one point, I considered breaking pieces to incorporate it, but it didn’t feel right as the art of the gold is about taking something beautiful that needs fixing… During a recent class with my son’s kids, I did a tile workshop, and one little girl’s tile broke – imperfection is fine – when it cracks naturally, it really works ad teaching that to a class of 7 year old was very special watching them get their heads around this.
Without question, it has given me more of a business focus – I see opportunities like the supper clubs. I feel fully trained in how to reach out and gain contacts. Training in a different discipline has helped me create a unique discipline in ceramics – colour and patterns were very important to me when I was designing and my love of form, colour, and texture have translated over nicely. It’s helped me create an individual look whilst still being able to seize business opportunities.
I tell stories in colour palettes – when I do my Sunday service – laying the table on a Sunday – it gives me the chance to look at various combinations and how they all look together. It’s about making unexpected connections – Sunday service brings the pieces to life and together. Don’t think these are just ornate pieces to sit on a shelf; they are totally functional, but they are to be used in all their beauty. It’s not just about the positive perfect pieces – a mistake can be a wonderful story to tell.
