Tile Envy- Welbeck Tiles

TE I see that you were educated at Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent, an area renowned for its place in ceramic history. Can you tell us about that and what you most appreciate about that history?

BB I spent a total of nearly three years from 1986 living and studying in the historic town of Stoke-on-Trent and feel very privileged to have experienced life in that wonderful city. On arriving there, the first thing that stuck me was the distinct smell the whole place had of a heady mix of kilns firing. It was a sweet and lovely thing. My college was right in the heart of Stoke town. Stoke-on-Trent is really a collection of six different towns which all merge together. Each of them then housing some of the most wonderful companies; Spode, Wedgewood, Minton's, and Royal Doulton to name but a few. But what really added to its character was all the little pottery companies who made all kinds of pottery items; cookware, figurines, etc. There were literally thousands. Many would buy the 'seconds' whiteware from the big factories and put their own decoration on them so it was a real hive of activity and a very inspiring place to be. Many of the larger factories had museums attached to them where you could go and see all the wonderful things past & present. The whole area was almost exclusively devoted to pottery making, and the skills possessed in that small area was astounding with generations of the same family all involved in ceramics. One of our tutors at college had worked for Crown Derby as one of their top china decorators. His influence on my work was massive. I loved to watch him paint. He was fantastic at raised paste a technique where you paint a white paste onto china in decorative scrolls etc this is then fired and a later application of gold is made on top of this to leave wonderful decorative raised patterns in gold.He taught me lots of techniques that have stayed with me throughout.

(Royal Doulton china)

TE You started your ceramic career in tableware, first. What brought you over to the “tile side”?

BB On leaving college, I was making decorated china for companies such as Bergdorf Goodman and the majority of my work was for export. The China was very expensive to produce and I was approached by so many people who loved the designs but not the price tag.This got me thinking of a different way of using the designs and tiles seemed a natural progression and took me into a different market.

TE I’ve been a tile designer/producer for such a long time, but I still recall the first tile I ever made. Can you tell us about yours?

BB My first ever tile was the Tableware design and still one of our best sellers after 15 years!

(Welbeck Tableware series)

TE Where are you based now, and how do you think that influences your work?

BB We have been based in Cornwall for the last three years. It had been both my husband and my dream to live by the sea and we absolutely adore it. The quality of light in Cornwall is amazing due to the fantastic clear air and the scenery. The atmosphere of this place is very powerful and inspiring. It is full of creative people and has an energy that is infectious. I have noticed a lot more colour creeping into my work since moving here!

(Welbeck postcard series)

TE I’m very well-versed in the tricky production of gold tiles. What are your biggest production challenges?

BB Our biggest production challenges are many! We have so many different patterns and many different techniques. But gold and platinum firing is, I agree, particularly challenging especially on a crackle surface as temperature and thickness are both critical.

(Welbeck Platinum series)

TE Who and/or what are you biggest design influences?

BB My biggest design influences are a cocktail of different mediums mostly from the past. I love printed fabric from the 1950's and have a huge collection of pieces collected over many years. There is something about the spirit of that era that I love and the colours and patterns have such a happy mood to them. I also have a way-too-big collection of pottery and china! One of my favourite potters was Susie Cooper who was born in Stok- on-Trent in 1902 she had her own factory from the 1930's and produced what was considered, then, everyday tea and dinner ware. But the designs are wonderful, lovely linear banding in gorgeous muted shades. Motifs such as a leaping deer became her trademark. She also pioneered the use of lithographs, something which has played a huge part in my own work.

(Susie Cooper Pottery circa 1920's)

TE Can you tell us about your most interesting tile project?

BB My most interesting tile project is usually the last one I have done. But earlier this year we made some tiles for a client with a panel above a bath using Welbeck Words taken from the play a Midsummer night's Dream by Shakespeare, which had special meaning to the client. These were interspersed with our Roses some with the gold finish.

(Welbeck Words)

TE Lastly, can you share some of your own tile envy- historical and/or contemporary?

BB The tiles I envy are from the past, I'm afraid! I love all the Victorian tiles especially the encaustic floor tiles with all the fantastic geometric interlocking patterns. There are now some fantastic reproductions of these. One day I will have a floor relaid with these! Probably in black & white still my favourite colour combination.

(Victorian encaustic tiles)

Thanks to Brenda for sharing so much of the story behind your beautiful tiles. I hope everyone will take a moment to see more Welbeck creations at www.welbeck.com.