Eva Temple of Eva Ceramics creates handmade pieces that are playful and considered, tactile and deeply personal. Her work is rooted in drawing, folk art and an instinct for form that she’s been quietly developing her whole life.
We sat down with Eva to learn more about her creative world, her process, and the collection that she says is the most her she’s ever felt.
Related article: DIY air dry clay name wall art
Related article: Thread and intention: Inside the studio of Elizabeth Sullivan
Eva didn’t find ceramics, ceramics found her.
“I grew up in a household of artists, so in many ways I guess my path was inevitable,” Eva begins. “My dad taught drawing and my mum taught textiles at university. I was constantly encouraged to create, explore, and experiment. Drawing became a natural part of my everyday life.
“Travel shaped my early years too. Photography became another important outlet, and over time, I’ve worked across textiles, graphics and drawing. But funnily enough, clay was never part of the picture. That changed in 2021.
“I completed a ten-week intensive course and was completely hooked. I haven’t looked back since! Ceramics quickly became my primary medium, and I often think of it as a form of three-dimensional drawing, a way to bring line, form, and movement into physical space.
What fascinates me about ceramics is the process itself. You invest so much time and care into each piece, but once it goes into its final firing, there’s nothing more you can do. It’s completely out of your hands.
“There are so many variables involved, and there’s always the possibility that something might go wrong. It can be nerve-wracking, but that uncertainty is also part of what makes it so special. There’s a kind of trust in the whole process.”
Eva’s style isn’t fixed, and that’s exactly the point.
“I tend to move through phases in my work,” Eva explains. “I love to play and experiment, and I can feel quite trapped if I stay with one style for too long, so I naturally shift and evolve over time.”
“Early on, I became known for my signature bobble forms. Think rounded, textural, immediately recognisable.
“I also spent time deep in creamy whites and neutrals before moving into bold, expressive colour. Lately, I can feel myself shifting again, back towards earthy, muted tones.
“More recently, I’ve been exploring folky, floral motifs in my decoration. I’m quarter Polish, and I’ve always been drawn to the charm and character of traditional folk patterns. There’s something about adding that layer of decoration that makes each ceramic piece feel especially unique.
“I love both hand building and wheel throwing, moving between the two depending on what I’m making and what feels right.
At the core of it all, I’m interested in creating playful forms and continuously experimenting with surface and design, allowing the work to evolve as I do.
“I can’t force creativity, and if something isn’t flowing, I’ll move on to another task that needs doing.
“With ceramics in particular, I think you’re always learning. There’s always something new to discover, refine, or understand.”
Inspiration for Eva always begins with a feeling.
“More than anything, I’m inspired by feeling,” Eva says. “Recently, I created a tableware set influenced by The Secret Garden, one of my favourite films growing up.
“I wanted the pieces to capture that sense of discovering something hidden and magical and wild. My Secret Garden collection is the most me my work has felt in a while.
“With this body of work, I let go of thinking about what was trending or what felt ‘cool’, and instead focused on creating purely for myself… on what felt natural and fulfilling.
“My process follows the same emotional thread. It starts with a question: how do I want someone to feel with this piece?
“Once I have a general direction, I begin by drawing. I always draw first. I’ll sketch multiple shape ideas and refine them down to a favourite. If decoration is involved, I’ll then move into painting pattern and exploring colour ways.”
“From there, the making begins and the piece often takes on a life of its own. Quite often, new ideas come to me during the process, and I almost always follow them.
I like to let the clay guide me a little, to trust what feels right in the moment. Because of that, a piece can end up quite different from what I originally planned. But that’s part of the beauty of it for me.
We think you’ll agree that the pieces from Eva Ceramics are something genuinely special. Each piece is shaped by hand, guided by feeling, and fired with the kind of quiet trust that only comes from truly loving what you do.
To explore Eva’s current work and collections, check out her website, or head to her Instagram.
Find more artists here
