Art from craft

Meet three women who are making a living from their creative passions

- CAROLINE BEDDOW

Perfect porcelain

Sophie Cook, 49, is a ceramicist from Woodbridge, Suffolk. As a child, Sophie, who was born in Greenwich, London, made sculptures from wire and modelling clay. This interest led to her studying for a degree in ceramics at London's Camberwell College of Arts, where she produced hand-built bottles for her final-year show. She then started throwing with porcelain and, with support from the Designers Guild, she bought a kiln, took studio space and sold her work in its King's Road shop.

Sophie moved to Suffolk in 2015, where she lives with her partner Matt, 51, and their three boys, Finn, 16, Gabriel, 14, and Kit, 11.

'Initially I worked with just the original bottle shape in a range of matt turquoises, but then added other colours and finishes, as well as teardrop and pod shapes,' says Sophie. 'Porcelain is a delicate material to work with, and of the four pieces I throw a day, some don't actually survive the carving and firing process.'

Drawing on the Suffolk landscape for inspiration, Sophie has recently developed a new range of colours, ranging from umber to deepest navy.

Her work can be found in homes all over the world, including Sir Elton John's. Some pieces are also on display at the Museum of the Home in Hoxton, London, and Manchester City Galleries.

Stunning stained glass