Bill Crumbleholme

As a founder member of the Upwey Potters, and retiring Chairman of the Dorset Pottery Group, Bill has become known to many people in the arts through his previous work with the Dorset Art Weeks.

Bill enjoys archaeological experimentation, researching and reproducing ancient local pottery which strongly influences him. He appeared on Channel 4’s Time Team, shot locally at Waddon.

These Bronze Age collared urns and beakers were fired in a simple turf kiln - see this link for an archive of the firing.

He is currently producing Bronze Age Bucket Urns and Beakers using bonfires and also soda firing them to produce “Fusion Wares”.

The Upwey Potters Soda kiln with a batch of Beakers.
See this link for an archive of the Soda kiln's firings

Black Burnished ware, produced in Celtic Dorset, inspires much of Bill’s work. He recreates the surface textures, using various low technology firing techniques. The attractive smooth surfaces and flashes of subtle colours of Bill’s contemporary burnished and smoked vessels enhance their elegant shape.

His functional bowls are usually rooted in the Iron Age tradition, with a small foot ring under a generous belly, topped with a beaded lip.

The radially glazed bowls are an old favourite of Bill’s, with an assortment of glazes tempered with dolomite, wood ash and Cornish Stone.

Raku fired globes and bowls with subtle turquoise and bright lustrous copper rich glazes lend relief to the more traditional earthy colours.

Bill runs pottery classes and workshops in Upwey,
featuring throwing and firing techniques.
See the Upwey Class page here.