My scraffito at THe Winchcombe Pottery

Years ago I used to have a painting workshop at The Winchcombe Pottery. I used to chat with Ray and Mike Finch, Eddie Hopkins and visiting potters, but didn't have a go. A few more years later I used to swap eggs for egg cups with Ray Finch......but it was only last year that I started working with clay.

Blackbird by Katie Morgan

Last October I joined a Saturday morning class at the famous Winchcombe Pottery. Matt Grimmitt taught us all and after my many attempts at slip decoration , told me about scraffito.....I am now completely hooked! I love Thomas Toft slipware dishes but I find that my style of illustration seems to work well on the earthenware pots.

Geese by Katie Morgan

Matt kindly made me some mugs and I decorated them giving them to friends and family as Christmas presents. 

Pigeon by Katie Morgan

This year I am achieving one of my ambitions by decorating platters celebrating Winchombe Potteries 90th Anniversary. They are made by Matt so have three marks, The Winchcombe Pottery, Matt Grimmit and my own.

Pigeon by Katie Morgan

These celebration plates will be available to buy from The Winchcombe Pottery.

Apples by Katie Morgan

All photographs taken by Alison Morgan - AlisonMPhotography

Words from the Canal

In the winter evenings I have always sit doodling, while keeping warm and watching telly. One evening I decided to make a project for myself and start to illustrate words....one day I might even string them together to make some stories!

My coloured version of one of my illustrations from 'Words from the Road'

I self published my first book 'Words from the Road' in 2014. This book is full of romany words and their meanings alongside my black and white illustrations. I've been told that they are great for colouring in. The wonderful Peter Ingram helped me enormously with the correct lingo.
Once I'd finished I set about illustrating my second book 'Words from the Canal'....perhaps I should have called it Words from the Cut, but not everyone would have known that the word 'cut' means the canal.

http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/7048207-words-from-the-canal

Years ago I used to visit friends who had beautiful working narrow boats. They delivered coal in the winter and turned their homes into 'trip' boats for some of the summer holidays. I loved staying on them and really loved it when I had the chance to spend a few weeks living in an original boat cabin.
Of course I found it quite magical but it would have been a very different story years ago for families living and working these boats.

Words from the Canal

When I have stayed and visited canals and boat museums I found myself collecting words used on the canals ....there are lots, too many for me to use in my little book.

I have now published this book ' Words from the Canal'. Once you've read it you will know that I could have called it 'Words from the Cut' and my first book could have been called 'Words from the Drom'. My third book is under way....fingers crossed it will be ready to publish by the end of the year. If you do purchase them, I hope you enjoy them and perhaps add some of the words to your own vocabulary...oh and if you like to colour in pictures...then I'd love to see what you have created.

Both books are available to purchase from my bookshop on Blurb http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/7048207-words-from-the-canal

Books and cards are also available via The Bothy Shop