The small studio doing big things.
Your Studio Hosts
My name is Anne and I am the artist and owner behind Lyds Ceramics. I began studying ceramics at the Haliburton School of Art and Design in 2021, and continue my education through my own work.
The name "Lyds" is a tribute to my grandmother, Lydia Blanche Newell Holmes. An amazing woman and my favourite lady, she showed us endless love, patience, and understanding, and always retained a sense of humour. An angel to us now, she lived to 100 and is a powerful example of someone I hope to be like one day.
As a potter and ceramic artist, I strongly believe that beauty should be incorporated into the objects we use every day. Objects can be deeply personal, holding memories and experiences and provoking strong emotions. They are more than just their functional purpose, they take up space in our lives and become part of our daily routine.
Like everything in life, my style is constantly changing. I love to embrace different projects and forms as I discover them and enjoy bringing new elements into my work.
My name is Alison and creativity encompasses my whole life.
I love to use different materials to bring my ideas to life: from textiles to paper crafts and card making to music and drawing. These days my primary focus is pottery and writing.
I didn’t fall in love with pottery until I took a class in early 2022 at The Clay Warehouse in Port Coquitlam. I loved how tactile the clay felt in my hands and how intuitive it was to shape on the wheel. I was terrible at it but I kept going. On a whim I began a very special project to make 80 birds for my mum’s 80th birthday. Making so many birds changed the way I saw pottery; turning it from a hobby into a passion.
I take a lot of inspiration from the natural world which can be seen in my organic shapes, my floral designs and the flocks of birds that emerge from the clay.
Nature fills me with such awe and brings to the surface many questions about the universe and my place in it. I use poetry and stories to try and explore some of the longing I feel when looking at the sky at night or when I’m standing beneath the tall, tall trees.
When I’m not creating, I’m hanging with my dog in the sun, riding my bike, baking or reading. I’m always trying to slow down enough to appreciate moments throughout each day.