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In April, 2006, Chris embarked on his latest phase of his career by moving to Woodbridge in Suffolk. There, he continues to evolve his raku technique, benefiting from both the inspirational Suffolk countryside and the more consistent weather, and is looking forward to what the future holds. Chris works at his studio at home, where he can dedicate his time to the ongoing challenge that is raku firing. He hand throws all his pieces as a high standard of quality is all-important to Chris. He refuses to use moulds or to use a template to slab-cut his pieces, as he doesn’t want his work to become an impersonal production line. The clay that Chris uses is one that he has developed himself over the years to enable the fine throwing he demands and he has also developed the glaze that is optimum to achieve the vibrant and unique pieces of art you see in the gallery of this site.

Finally, I wish to try to convey to you, the reader, what I saw when watching Chris at work. Totally engrossed in his throwing, where all else has ceased to exist for him, I get a sense of what Chris describes as “magic” that he saw when he first saw his lecturer throw. “Even now when I raise the clay, I still get the same sense of excitement and wonder as to where the clay is going to take me”.

The unpredictable nature of the raku firing process is obviously going to keep Chris interested forever. That “dangerous, boy-ish” pull he mentioned earlier, will clearly never bore him. Even after nearly 10 years, to Chris, the allure and challenge of raku is still the same as it was the first time. With a success ratio of 4:10, you can imagine the drive to accomplish the unattainable that is perfection every time. “Raku keeps you on your toes because you’ll never know what is going to happen……………”.

Now you know the story behind it, I hope you enjoy Chris’ beautiful, unique and highly sought-after art.

C.M.M.

14th August, 2006

In early 2000, Chris decided to leave the North East of England and move to the Borders of Scotland where he worked for other outlets/potters, producing functional pottery for sale to the public. By the end of 2000, Chris concluded that he’d like to pursue his interest in raku and set up CHR Ceramics (Christopher Hepworth Raku Ceramics) in December of that year. Although at that time, Chris was still making and selling mainly functional-ware, he was also refining his raku firing technique, and after 5 years of trial and error, in 2003, Chris’ raku pieces were outselling the functional work and so he decided to concentrate all his efforts on solely producing raku art. Chris’ work became well known and respected throughout the Borders area and beyond. Through both national and international visitors to his studio, pieces of Chris’ art are strewn throughout the British Isles and many countries of the world.