Inspired by the River Lune, Morecambe Bay and the beautiful Lake District I make unique contemporary handmade hand decorated Porcelain.
ABOUT SARAH LIVINGSTONE CERAMICS
I am a ceramic artist based in Lancashire, creating hand-carved sgraffito ceramics inspired by Britain's coastline, wildlife and landscape.
Working from my studio at Halton Mill beside the River Lune, I design and make contemporary ceramic wall hangings, whales, birds and decorative pieces using the traditional sgraffito technique. Each piece is individually drawn and carved by hand, creating distinctive cobalt blue and white designs that reflect my love of the sea, islands, estuaries and wild places.
After originally training as a potter at Chesterfield College of Art, I returned to ceramics to develop a body of work inspired by my travels around the British coast. Time spent exploring places such as Cornwall, Devon, the Hebrides, Pembrokeshire, and the shores of Morecambe Bay continues to influence the imagery and stories within my work.
My collections are created in small batches from my Lancashire studio and are released throughout the year. Through hand-carved line, pattern and texture, I aim to capture a sense of place, movement and connection to the natural world.
Thank you for visiting my studio.
Sarah Livingstone
Returning to clay
My journey with clay began when I left school and enrolled on an Art and Design course at my local college. It was there that I first discovered the pottery wheel. One of my tutors, Mr Pollard, was a potter, and he taught me how to throw. I was immediately captivated by the process of transforming a simple lump of clay into something both beautiful and useful.
After college, my career took me in a different direction. I worked with young people with additional needs before spending many years supporting children with complex needs. Later, I moved into occupational therapy as a support worker. Although creativity remained important to me, clay gradually became something I did less and less as work and life took over.
Everything changed when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Going through treatment made me stop and reconsider what I wanted from life. After finishing treatment, I moved to Cornwall for a year and worked in a small bed and breakfast. Living by the coast gave me the time and space to reflect. I found myself drawn once again to the sea, the changing light, the wildlife and the sense of calm that coastal landscapes bring.
When I returned to Lancashire, I knew I wanted to reconnect with my creative roots. I discovered an old mill beside the River Lune that was renting out studio spaces, and I took the leap and rented a workshop. Surrounded by the river, trees and wildlife, I began working with clay again and slowly developed the ceramic practice that has become Sarah Livingstone Ceramics.
Today, the coast, rivers, wildlife and landscapes that have inspired me throughout my life continue to influence every collection I create.
Inspired by Britain's coastline
The sea has been a constant presence throughout my life and remains at the heart of my work today. As a ceramic artist, much of my inspiration comes from Britain's coastline, coastal wildlife, estuaries, rivers and the ever-changing relationship between land, water and sky.
I was born in Bristol, and because my father worked for the power industry, our family moved several times during my childhood. One of the places that left the deepest impression on me was Cemaes Bay on the northern coast of Anglesey. We lived high above the sea, looking down over the coastline, and many of my earliest memories are of watching the waves, the weather and the seabirds.
My favourite birds have always been gulls. Their distinctive calls are woven into my childhood memories of coastal life. I remember winter storms sweeping in from the Irish Sea, watching gulls battling against the wind, and seeing sea spray carried so high that it would reach the windows of our home. The sea could be calm and reflective one day and wild and dramatic the next, a contrast that continues to influence the imagery in my sgraffito ceramics.
As children, my brother and I spent countless hours exploring beaches, searching for sea-washed treasures and peering into rock pools. Cemaes Bay, with its rocky shoreline and hidden pools, became a place of discovery and wonder. Those early experiences nurtured a lifelong fascination with wildlife, landscape and the natural patterns found along Britain's coast.
Later, our family moved to Kent, where we lived near the marshes and coastline of New Romney. Again, the sea was never far away. Eventually we settled in Lancashire, where Morecambe Bay and the River Lune became part of everyday life. The vast tidal landscapes, changing light and abundance of birdlife found there continue to inspire my work today.
Weekends throughout my childhood were often spent in the Lake District. Whatever the weather, we would be walking beside lakes, exploring shorelines and spending time outdoors. Places such as Coniston Water hold particularly happy memories and helped foster my deep connection with water, landscape and wild places.
My connection to water extends beyond observation and memory. Throughout my adult life, I have loved swimming in open water, finding the same sense of freedom and connection to nature that I experienced as a child. One of the most memorable experiences was swimming the full length of Coniston Water in the Lake District. Having spent so many childhood weekends exploring its shores, returning years later to swim its length felt deeply personal. Surrounded by mountains, changing light and the quiet beauty of the landscape, it remains one of the most inspiring experiences of my life.
Today, the imagery that appears in my hand-carved sgraffito ceramics is rooted in these experiences. Seabirds, whales, waves, rivers, coastlines and landscapes are not simply subjects that I choose to decorate with; they are places, memories and moments that have shaped who I am. Through my contemporary coastal ceramics, I hope to capture something of the beauty, movement and atmosphere of Britain's coastline and the natural world that continues to inspire me.
Life Beside the River Lune
My studio is based at Halton Mill, a historic mill building on the banks of the River Lune in Lancashire. It is a place that I feel incredibly fortunate to work from and one that continues to inspire my ceramic collections every day.
Surrounded by mature trees, birdsong and flowing water, the river is never far away. Throughout the seasons, the landscape is constantly changing. After heavy rainfall, I can hear the powerful rush of water from my workshop as the river swells and surges downstream. During drier periods, the river becomes calmer and more revealing, exposing rocks and gravel beds where fish can often be seen moving beneath the surface.
Just a short walk from my studio are the canoe steps, where I often take a cup of tea and spend a few quiet moments beside the water. It is one of my favourite places to pause, observe and gather inspiration. The riverbank is rich with wildlife and there is always something to see or hear.
Over the years, I have watched kingfishers darting low across the water, cormorants drying their wings on riverside branches and flycatchers moving through the trees. Wrens, blackbirds, blue tits and great tits provide a constant soundtrack, while woodpeckers can often be heard tapping in the surrounding woodland. Gulls regularly pass overhead and there always seems to be a little wren hopping amongst the undergrowth nearby. Nuthatches, finches and many other birds make their home here, creating a landscape that feels alive with movement and sound.
The River Lune is a place of endless variety. Light changes across the water from morning to evening, weather transforms the mood of the landscape, and every season brings something different to observe. These small moments often find their way into my work, whether through the birds I carve into clay, the flowing lines that echo water and movement, or the sense of place that runs through my sgraffito ceramics.
From the studio, it is possible to walk alongside the river towards the Crook o' Lune, one of Lancashire's most beautiful stretches of countryside. From there, the views open out across the river valley towards Ingleborough and the Yorkshire Dales beyond. It is a landscape that never fails to inspire me and one that reminds me daily why nature, wildlife and the natural world remain at the heart of my work.
Today, my hand-carved sgraffito ceramics continue to be shaped by both the coastlines I have loved throughout my life and the wildlife-rich landscape that surrounds my studio. Together, they provide a constant source of inspiration for every collection I create.
The Sgraffito Process
My ceramic journey began at the pottery wheel, and throwing remains something I deeply enjoy. Over the years, I have spent countless hours making pots and teaching others how to throw, helping students discover the same satisfaction that first drew me to clay.
Yet alongside my love of pottery, I have always been drawn to drawing and illustration. Sketching has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and over time I found myself wanting to combine those two passions. I wanted to create work that brought together clay, drawing and storytelling.
This led me to the sgraffito technique that I use today.
Each piece begins with a slab of clay that is carefully rolled out and shaped into a plaque, hanging or sculptural form. Once the clay reaches the right stage, I apply a layer of cobalt blue slip across the surface. It is then that the creative process truly begins.
Rather than working from rigid patterns, I prefer to draw directly onto the clay. The process is largely freehand, allowing ideas to develop naturally as I work. Inspiration often comes from the coastlines, wildlife and landscapes that I have loved throughout my life. Many hours are spent listening to audiobooks rich in descriptions of wild places, islands, seas and remote landscapes, and these stories often find their way into the imagery that emerges beneath my tools.
Using fine carving tools, I carefully scratch through the cobalt surface to reveal the lighter clay beneath. This traditional sgraffito process allows me to create intricate illustrations, delicate linework and layers of texture. As the image develops, I add areas of shading and contrast to create depth and atmosphere within the design.
Texture is an important part of my work. I often manipulate and shape the clay itself, folding and working the edges to create a sense of movement and character. The carved lines of the sgraffito process add a further layer of texture, helping to bring birds, landscapes, waves and wildlife to life.
One thing that never changes is my use of cobalt blue. Blue has always been my favourite colour, and I am continually drawn to the timeless beauty of traditional blue and white ceramics. The contrast between deep cobalt and pale clay provides the perfect canvas for the imagery I create, allowing every line, texture and detail to stand out.
Each piece is individually drawn and carved by hand. No two are exactly alike. Together they reflect my love of the natural world, Britain's coastlines and the stories that emerge when clay, illustration and imagination come together.
Creating Small Collections
I create my work in small collections rather than producing the same designs throughout the year. This approach allows me to explore new ideas, respond to changing seasons and continue developing my work creatively.
Each collection begins with sketches, observations and memorie[08:42, 05/06/2026] Sarah Liv: s gathered from places that have inspired me, whether that is the coastline of Anglesey, the wildlife along the River Lune, the landscapes of the Lake District or journeys to Britain's islands and shores.
Working in small collections gives me the freedom to experiment with new compositions, subjects and textures while ensuring that every piece receives the time and attention it deserves. Each ceramic is individually drawn and carved by hand using the sgraffito technique, making every piece unique.
Many of my designs are only created once or for a limited period before I move on to new ideas and fresh sources of inspiration. The archive of previous collections reflects this ongoing creative journey and shows how the work continues to evolve over time.
By releasing small collections throughout the year, I hope to share not only finished pieces but also the stories, places and experiences that inspired them.
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