Trend | Creative

Motherhood, matriarchy and memories of the sea have all inspired Juliet Macleod on her remarkable journey as a talented potter. From a busy career spanning two decades as a graphic designer in London, to discovering a creative outlet in the midst of motherhood, Juliet has gone on to exhibit at Aberdeen Art Gallery and even taken up an artist residency on a remote Scottish island.

Now based in Peterculter, she believes life has come full circle and her beautiful designs are often based on the North-east coastline. Trend caught up with Juliet to find out the story behind her business, The Cloud Pottery and the tales which have shaped it along the way.

“I worked as a graphic designer in London for 20 years, we came to Aberdeen in 2010 just after the birth of our youngest child,” said Juliet. “I gave up work and I absolutely loved motherhood, but it felt like a creative wasteland. My husband suggested I did a short evening course at Gray’s and I selected ceramics, having already collected them for a great many years.” Juliet discovered an “instant affinity” with the potter’s wheel, from the physical forces at play to the autonomy which it gave her. At this stage however, she had no intention of turning her new found love into a second career.

“The prospect of being self employed sounded wonderful, and I decided to invest in my own wheel after I was left some money by my aunt, and borrowed an ancient kiln,” she said. “I set up a tiny studio in my utility room and I started practising. By the end of 2014 I had a thankfully bigger studio at the bottom of the garden. I still remember selling my very first piece, it was a fantastic feeling to have someone buy something I’d made.”

The Cloud Pottery was born and aptly named after Juliet turned to the past for inspiration. “I never met my grandmother, but she was a wonderful woman,” she said. “She had a boat called The Cloud so it came from there, as a nod to the many strong women in my family.” Juliet bases many of her designs on the coast, having spent most of her childhood growing up close to the sea. “My father was in The Royal Navy so we were never far away from the coast,” she said. “My mother’s family came from Skye and my father-in-law came from North Uist, we visited the Hebrides every summer.”

Juliet has spent a month on the island of Berneray for the last three years, where just over 100 people live all year round. Found between Harris and North Uist, the white sand beaches have influenced much of her work. Having moved to Aberdeen, Juliet discovered the joy of the North-east coastline, whether that be the rugged dunes of St Cyrus or the seal colony at Newburgh. “I can be fascinated by the tiniest shell, and the many different bits of material you can find on the beach, whether that’s bits of plastic or sheep wool,” said Juliet. “I use techniques which my father taught me in his workshop, he died in 2019 and I love that I have these memories to shape my work.”

Alongside high-profile exhibitions, Juliet believes one of her biggest highlights was to become a Selected Member of the Craft Potters Association. “That felt like a huge milestone to me, given that it is the most renowned pottery association in the UK,” she said. Juliet also won a commission from Aberdeen Art Gallery and recently displayed her work there as part of the Tea Green market. The opportunity has enabled Juliet to sell her work face to face, which she much prefers due to the connections she can forge with customers. “Since the pandemic there’s been a re-embracing of craftsmanship and a greater understanding of what’s involved in making something by hand versus by machine,” she said. “It’s only by engaging in person that you can capture that value and context, and truly connect.”

To find out more, visit julietmacleod.com