About

I’m Ros, an Australian-Indonesian ceramicist and the founder of The Mud House in Brighton. I’m drawn to pattern, colour and contrast, and my work is inspired by techniques such as nerikomi, neriage and agateware, which build pattern from the clay itself rather than from surface decoration. I use highly contrasting clays, layering, folding and stacking coloured blocks, then slicing them open to reveal patterns that run right through each piece.

My sculptural and functional work sits somewhere between playful and precise. I plan each pattern carefully, but the process never quite does what I expect. Cutting a block at a different angle reveals something completely new, and the clay stretches and shifts in ways I can’t fully control. I love that unpredictability. That tension between planning and chance is what keeps me coming back to the worktable.

I spent 15 years working in interior architecture before leaving my corporate career to follow my passion for ceramics and community. That background still shapes how I make. I’ve always thought about how objects live in a space, and alongside sculptural pieces and tableware, I make work for the home, including lighting and hardware such as handles and knobs, where pattern becomes part of everyday touch and light.

About The Mud House

I grew up as a third culture kid, shaped by Australian and Indonesian cultures, and I’ve since made my home in another culture here in the UK. That taught me how much it matters to feel welcome. We didn’t have much growing up, and I know how easily cost can keep people out of creative spaces.

I opened The Mud House in Brighton in 2024 to make pottery accessible to everyone. We offer drop-in classes, courses and memberships for complete beginners and experienced potters alike, along with pay-as-you-feel sessions and concessions. Some of our workshops are designed specifically for people from minority communities, because everyone deserves a place at the wheel.

Most of all, I love sharing what I’ve learned and watching people discover what clay can do.