Imogen Charleston Ceramics

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Imogen Charleston Ceramics

Handcrafted ceramics using Dorset clays, foraged and waste materials Imogen’s primary material is clay.

Growing up on the Dorset coast with a very creative family, Imogen was encouraged to draw, sculpt clay and play musical instruments from an early age. After leaving school she studied art, then electronics, returning to art to complete a BA in Applied Art & Design in 2012. She founded Moon Studio Ceramics in 2015 and teaches at her studio in Christchurch. She is co-founder and puppeteer with The Paper Cinema, who have toured their live animation shows internationally since 2004.

15/06/2026

Finishing off pieces for the next firing of the wee meadow kiln later this month. Also spending some time with pots from the previous one.

This will be the third firing so the kiln and me are still getting to know each other. Which shelf is best for which glaze and so on. I’ve got a couple of different ideas to try out in this next one.

Then it will be time to sort and select for in July.

31/05/2026

Salad season. My current favourite is with buckwheat. Naturally gluten free and not related to wheat. This is a seed from a flowering plant - and the seeds have the most unique shape.
Thought I would show one of my new bowls with a serving suggestion.
Today I’ve been throwing a few more of these for the next wood firing.

Thanks to everyone who’s stopped by over the weekend, to have a chat and claim a piece for their own.
The studio is open again next Friday to Sunday for dorsetartweeks

29/05/2026

Open studio this weekend starting today.
Karaf and cups - perfect for cold drinks in the heat.

20/05/2026

Vases from my most recent wood firing. These are a slight variation on my previous ones they have a more open rim. I picked some cow parsley as it’s growing abundantly along the lanes to the studio.

Trying to catalogue the last two wood firings with an actual camera rather than just my phone. I always used to do that, and enjoy setting up a little stage for the pots to perform on. The flat light of the slightly cloudy sky has been perfect for it.
Some of these will be available to buy from me during open studios. Dorset Art Weeks starts this Saturday 23rd. See previous post for address.

19/05/2026

Dorset Art Weeks open studio starts this weekend.

Venue 84 - Moon Studio Ceramics, Hawthorn Farm Buildings, Lyndhurst rd, Christchurch BH23 7AB
An old farm in a beautiful rural setting, and lucky enough where my studio has been for the last ten years.
Open each weekend - 23 -25 May / 29 - 31 May / 5 - 7 June

I’m also running a two day throwing course this weekend - if you’re interested send me a dm for details.

Stuart will be with me exhibiting paintings and doing a drop in Pyrography workshop. My neighbour is also opening the door to her print studio.

18/05/2026

Four little lidded pots from the wood fired kiln. Unpacking today was a treat. Lots of good things happening.
These four are test pieces with different ash glaze and local clay combinations.

I’ll need to spend a day photographing them all before this weekend and start of .

17/05/2026

The second meadow kiln firing

Fired on Friday. Started just after 7am. A calm day with very little wind. A few light showers drifted over, but the rain held off. Cruised up to temp with only one small dip that was recovered without too much trouble. Fuelled with scrap timber and pallets. Definitely a more efficient burn this time. Finished around 10 hours later at a toasty 1280c which felt like a good time and cones were down.
Thanks to and making up the stoking team for this one.

Unpacking tomorrow

14/05/2026

Glazing late into the night last night. Wood firing means different choices to using electric.
Having a selection of pots of different sizes and shapes. I need to stack the shelves at varying heights to allow the flame to move through the kiln and work its way around the whole pot chamber.
I’m using mostly ash based glazes. The ash is collected from friends with wood burners and fire places and then sieved to a small mesh size. That is mixed with some feldspar, and some use a local clay.
Glaze is then brushed or poured over, leaving space for the bare clay. This contrast is something I like to play with. But there is always the unknown of how much a glaze will run and move across the pot.

Loading today in readiness to light tomorrow morning.

13/05/2026

A view of the meadow kiln from the meadow at

Oxeye daisy, green alcanet, borage, nettle, sorrel, broom, teasel, clover and so many more.
The kiln now has a roof thanks to Stuart and Pete for the build. I have made some modifications and hopefully improvements to the kiln with some new to me bricks and shelves. I’ve been enjoying discovering the plethora of potters that live here in Dorset.
Today I’ll unpack the electric kiln and glaze pots ready to load tomorrow. A little close to the line for my liking but that’s how it goes sometimes.
I should have a nice collection of new work ready for which starts on 23rd May. Pop on by the studio, I’d love to see you! (Link in bio for details)

11/05/2026

Enjoying a few moments of sunshine to take a look at some of the wares from my last firing. This bottle has a nuka style glaze which has some very nice elements to it.
I’m firing my little back yard kiln up this Friday so making final preparations for that. What glazes to use and how to local the kiln to get the most out of it.

Address

Moon Studio Ceramics, Christchurch
Dorset
BH237AB

Website

http://imogencharleston.co.uk/

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