Turning Earth into Art | In Conversation with Isabelle Taylor-Jones

In her studio in Wivenhoe, Essex, ceramicist Isabelle Taylor-Jones creates pieces that are both beautiful and deeply thoughtful. Through Dantes Ceramics, she shapes raw clay into simple, everyday forms that are unique, imperfect and understated – always with a focus on sustainability, nature, and the rhythm of making by hand.

Issy invited us to her studio to see the creation process for our Conversation Starter Dinner plates – each one made slowly, intentionally, and with a deep respect for the earth. In this conversation, she shares her journey into ceramics, the inspiration behind her aesthetic and the values behind her work.

Q: How did your journey with clay begin, and what led you to start Dantes Ceramics?

A: "My journey with clay began in childhood, sparked by a fascination with my father’s collection of handmade earthenware pottery – very much in the tradition of Bernard Leach’s studio work. I was instantly drawn to the tactile glazes and the handmade character of each piece.

In my early thirties, I stepped away from a career in fashion to start a family and began experimenting with clay at evening classes at Richmond College. Later, I was fortunate to be invited to assist at a local pottery studio, where I learnt the discipline of wheel-throwing. During that time, I refined both my throwing technique and approach to glazing.

I was drawn to the idea of creating functional tableware in my own style, and in 2018, I launched Dantes Ceramics. To my surprise and delight, my work found an immediate following – particularly among food photographers and stylists who appreciated the understated, earthy aesthetic of my pieces."

 

Q: Your work is rooted in the idea of turning earth into art – something that beautifully echoes our e(ART)h ‘Conversation Starter’ theme. What does that concept mean to you?

A: " Clay is one of the most honest and elemental materials we can work with – quite literally the earth itself. There’s something deeply grounding about using your hands to shape raw clay into a vessel that becomes part of daily life.

To me, turning earth into art is both an act of creation and of connection with nature, with tradition, and with the rhythm of making something slowly, intentionally, and by hand. Each piece begins with the earth, and ends as something that hopefully enriches someone’s everyday rituals."

 

Q: Sustainability is clearly woven into your practice. How do your materials and making process reflect your values around nature, zero waste, and regeneration?

A:  “I’ve intentionally kept my studio practice small over the years. This allows me to be mindful in every part of the process and concentrate on keeping waste to a minimum. Creating small collections means I can reclaim and recycle every bit of unused clay back into workable material. The same goes for my glazes – nothing is discarded, with little to no waste.

I’m very conscious of over-consumption and the culture of disposability. I want people to buy less and invest in pieces that they will keep for a long time. My hope is that each piece I make is something to be cherished, used, and lived with over time.

We’ve become too accustomed to fast, mass-produced homewares. It’s important to ask: where were these items made? Who made them? And at what environmental or human cost? We need to relearn the value of objects made with care and intention – objects that honour both the maker and the earth."

 

Q: We couldn’t agree more! There’s a quiet elegance in the way your pieces embrace imperfection and simplicity. What draws you to that aesthetic, and how does it shape the way your ceramics are meant to be lived with?

A: "I think we’re all influenced by our surroundings. I spend a lot of time in the Scottish Highlands – a landscape of dramatic mountains, changing skies, and remote wilderness. I’ve also spent time in Norway, where the connection between nature and design feels deeply embedded.

These environments, along with my appreciation for Scandinavian minimalism, have organically influenced my own style – simple forms, natural textures, and a muted palette. My favourite pieces are often made without tools, shaped entirely by my hands and the mood I’m in.

Over time, I’ve let go of perfectionism. I now embrace the subtle irregularities – the quiet marks of the human hand. Each piece is entirely handmade, and each piece is unique. That’s the beauty of imperfection – it carries its own story."

Q: You created the beautiful plates for our Conversation Starters dinner – thank you so much! Could you share a bit about the making process, and how you brought those pieces to life?

A: " I was thrilled when Amy approached me for this project, as I hugely admire her – not only for her beautiful designs and sustainable sourcing, but also for her activism and campaigning against injustices.

For tonight’s dinner plates, I selected a buff stoneware clay body – chosen for both its durability and its connection to the Earth. One of the details I love most is the iron flecking that only reveals itself after the final firing. It felt like the perfect material for this project.

Imprinting the ‘Conversation Starter’ messages proved more challenging than expected, but it was important to me to create a physical link between the plate and the planet – a small, tangible reminder of the connection between what we use and where it comes from."

 

Q: We love them. Finally, could you tell us a bit about the peace brooches you’ve been creating? Where did the idea come from, and what do they represent for you?

A:  “The porcelain peace dove brooches came about as a result of feeling completely helpless and overwhelmed by the ongoing global unrest. Whenever I feel sad in the face of so much pain and helplessness, I retreat to my studio and begin making with my hands.

The simple dove motif is cut from porcelain by hand, and the process of making them is not only meaningful, but also unexpectedly soothing. There is something calming about shaping a symbol of peace, over and over.

The creation and sale of these brooches raises much needed funds for humanitarian relief efforts. But they also carry a quiet message of hope, one that I felt compelled to share in the most tangible way I could."

 

Each guest at our Conversation Starters Dinner was given a Dantes Ceramics peace brooch bought by AKYN, with 100% of proceeds raised being donated to helping Palestinian families in Gaza via @citythrifter & @medicalaidpal. 

Issy wears our Adria White e(ART)h T-shirt.

Shop the Conversation Starters Collection