12 August 2025
Meet Jaclyn Jones, the self-taught ceramicist behind JJ Pottery in Milford Haven. What began as a way to unwind from a demanding job has grown into a creative practice rooted in Pembrokeshire’s coastline, where each handmade piece carries a story, a memory, and a touch of the sea. Here, she tells us her story…
“I’m a self-taught potter living in Hakin, Milford Haven. In 2013, I needed a way to decompress from a very stressful job and a personal caring role. I took a handbuilding course at the local college – two hours a week for 12 weeks. The course ended when the building was upgraded, and I didn’t find anything else that worked for me for the next three years.
“In 2016, I decided to buy a wheel and kiln and teach myself – how hard could it be, I thought. It turns out, it’s hard! Especially teaching yourself. You make so many mistakes, but night after night, in a spare room, I sat at my wheel attempting to centre the clay and create something I’d be happy to display on my shelf. Slowly, my stress levels dropped, my focus shifted, and I discovered something that continues to excite me every day.
“Two years later, with help from family and friends, we built a studio in our garden using mainly recycled materials – the bricks came from the old cinema in Milford Haven where my husband and I first dated.
“I work with stoneware and white earthenware clays, creating pieces that people want to reach out and touch, and that they can interact with daily. I sculpt the most basic forms, keeping them pared back to simple shapes, each one unique.
“When sculpting whale flukes, I deliberately add scars or marks – sometimes the glaze hides them, sometimes they remain visible, just as in life. I throw tableware in small batches, often for commissions, but I regularly make mugs, bowls, and large platters simply because I enjoy the process.
“I use a mix of my own glazes and commercial ones, applying them by brushing or drizzling. Some pieces have up to five layers of glaze, and I have a lot of fun experimenting with the application.
“Recently, I’ve started attending local craft markets. It’s been wonderful seeing people interact with my work, especially the seals and whale tails.
“The main influences on my work are right outside my front door – the Pembrokeshire coastline, childhood memories, and happy days spent on the beaches. Rock-pooling, watching crustaceans, seabirds, and marine mammals – even mythical sea creatures – all find their way into my designs. Some special pieces are even named.
“I love the relaxed atmosphere of my studio. It’s a place where my mind connects to the creative process, and where any stress fades as my hands work with the clay.”
Today, Jaclyn’s studio is a sanctuary of creativity, where each piece of pottery reflects her love for Pembrokeshire’s coastline and her journey from stress to artistry – a story shaped, quite literally, by her own hands.
