I’m a disabled artist living in London, navigating the fascinating contradictions of being AuDHD as part introverted observer, part curious connector. My body, regularly ambushed by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and a living canvas of tattoos, has always had its own rhythm.

I spend my days playing with mud for a living after two decades of living a sensible day life as a registered nurse, giving into the reckless desire to become an artist. I collaborate with clay to create objects that narrate the strength and fragility of my journey; a testament to a thousand lives lived unapologetically to push the limits of what’s possible.

Rethinking the Studio: Accessibility in Ceramics

Open access studios are the beating heart of creative communities. Yet, there remains an important conversation: how do we make these spaces truly accessible?

Many traditional pottery techniques, tools, and studio layouts evolved without considering the needs of people with diverse bodies, abilities, and neurotypes. This is not a criticism, rather an opportunity. By reimagining how studios are set up, we can create environments where every artist can thrive.

Adaptive Tools for Creative Freedom

As a production potter, my work involves repetitive movements, heavy lifting, and sustained focus, which are demanding on the body. Adaptive tools aren’t just a convenience; they’re essential to my practice. They allow me to sustain my craft without sacrificing my health.

For example:

• H&N Russian Doll Batt System: Instead of wiring off finished pieces, I can let them dry directly on their batts, avoiding strain on my hands and wrists.
• Ergonomic studio layout: Every surface, tool, and storage area is positioned to reduce bending, twisting, and lifting.
• Clay opener from Justin’s Makery: This tool assists with opening clay consistently, sparing my joints from unnecessary stress (with the added and enviable added bonus that I don’t have to guess the width of edge base).

These adaptations don’t make my work less authentic, they make it sustainable.

Challenging the “Proper Way” Myth

Occasionally, I hear the advice to “learn to do it properly.” I understand this comes from traditional practice, but invisible illnesses and disabilities often demand different approaches. The truth is, there is no single “proper” way to make art. Pottery, like life, benefits from experimentation and adaptation.

I’m currently writing a short guide on building an adaptive pottery studio from tool hacks to ergonomic setups with the understanding that no single solution works for everyone. It’s about offering options, sparking ideas and dialogue, and normalising accessibility in the arts.

Final Thoughts

Being an artist is, in itself, an act of rebellion. It’s about questioning tradition, finding your own methods, and refusing to let rules dictate your voice.

Find your people. Celebrate your creative process. Let yourself fail spectacularly and often, because that is the soil from which originality grows. And remember: in art, there’s no such thing as “doing it wrong.”

About Me

I’m Charlotte Collier-Hunter, founder of Preaface Ceramics. Moving back to London in late 2018, I found it almost impossible to transfer my nursing registration to the UK (a story for another time) and did a week long intensive ceramics course during the pandemic (my sourdough starter was already well established), now creating functional pieces for restaurants and private clients and sculpture for exhibitions.

It is always hard to describe me; I have lived a thousand lives with the ethos “It’s not a dress rehearsal” and my AuDHD beside me as my ride or die, but this short (for an neurodivergent person, this is short) pile of words kind of relates some perspective.

Author’s note

As a neurodivergent, disabled ceramicist, my work is deeply influenced by my lived experience. I champion inclusive, adaptive approaches to pottery and advocate for diversity, accessibility, and intersectionality in the art world. I believe that every artist regardless of body, background, or neurotype should have the tools, space, and support they need to create.