Hello,I am Neil, I am a full-time duty manager at a swimming pool in Exeter and I am also a ceramicist (a serious hobby). I have my pottery studio in my garden at my home in Exeter.

Following on from studying glass, ceramics and studio pottery at Exeter College of Art, I have been making pots on a part-time basis since 1975. I make a large range of domestic stoneware items - from casseroles, to jugs, to vases; sculptural pieces; to other items - wall plaques, woven baskets. I sell in a number of galleries across the region and take part in exhibitions and craft fairs and make work to commissions (Neil's website)

I am married to Clare and we are both competitive athletes. We both compete for Dawlish Warren Lifesaving Club (in Devon) and I have been a member for about 30 years now.

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Lifesaving is a multi-disciplined sport, undertaken either in a swimming pool (stillwater events) or at beaches, involving testing the kind of skills lifeguards might use in a rescue situation. The events include sprinting on sand, 2 km on sand, swimming, board paddling, surf skis (like big canoes)and pairs and team events.

Clare and I have both had numerous national titles in the Masters Championships (for the over 30's) and also some World Championship medals. We have competed for Dawlish Warren in places like Australia, New Zealand, America, Italy, South Africa. The sport is fun, because at times not only are you racing your rivals, you are also often battling the surf and the elements. It is a fantastic sport for those who want a real challenge!

I have just launched an online merchandising site on Cafepress.You can visit my store on CafePress! here. This is an excellent way of getting your artwork out there, for people to see images of your pots on magnets, T-shirts, buttons and the like. Yes, people do buy this stuff! and you don't have to do a thing, except provide the artwork.

I am interested in hearing from potential customers about what you would like to see me make and from other ceramicists about what you like about my work or telling me something about what you do and make.