Biography

Potter hold a piece of her own work

Exhibitions and collaborators

Upcoming:

Worthing Artists Open Houses, at Montague Gallery 16th-28th September 2025, gallery open Tues-Sunday 10am-4pm 

Recent Events and Exhibitions:

15th July -10th August 2025, Guest artist at Montague gallery 

Parham House Sussex Day – June 15th 2025

September 2024, https://colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/melissa-graham-moments-in-clay/

November 2023, Potfest in the Pens – Melton Mowbray

POTFEST >>

I have always been attracted to pots which have the robust, friendly feeling I remember from some pots in the 1970s.  

Ever since childhood I had longed to ‘have a go’ on the potter’s wheel, I think because of seeing it on television at an early age.  However, I did not take steps to pursue this longing until 2018 when an illness gave me time to reflect on my priorities

I took a weekend throwing course at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation and, after a few weeks of reflection, I felt I had to find a way to pursue my interest. I was extremely fortunate to make contact with local potter John Evans https://jevceramics.co.uk/pages/and receive tutoring and mentoring from him.  John is well known for his beautiful, decorative raku work and also runs internationally popular workshops here in Worthing. 

In 2019 I attended a week-long workshop on preparing natural glazes with Miranda Forrest.  Miranda is an established artist based in the Outer Hebrides.  Inspired by this course, I like to use natural materials as part of the decoration process in much of my work.

Over 7 years my pottery journey has become a deepening passion, enlivenin my days with exploration, interest and enquiry.

Handmade pots are an endless source of fascination- there are so many links to the past, so many skills hard-won by incredibly dedicated people and, most fascinatingly of all, every single artist or craftsperson who touches clay will produce something unique and different.