About Paula

I’ve been working with clay for almost thirty years – ever since graduating with a degree in Design Crafts specialising in ceramics back in 1997. But my love affair with clay started long before that, at school, when I realised I could spend hours making something with my hands and lose all sense of time. That hasn’t changed. Clay still has the power to surprise me, challenge me, and keep me curious.

“Clay still has the power to surprise me.”

 Paula Armstrong

My sculptures are all about connection – between maker and material, and between the piece and the person looking at it. I love it when someone sees something in my work that I didn’t even put there, or when the same piece makes two people feel completely different things.

“The same piece will speak differently to different people – and I love that.”

 Paula Armstrong

Alongside making, I’m passionate about sharing clay with others. I believe creativity belongs to everyone, and nothing beats seeing a student’s face light up when they open the kiln to find something they love – especially if they weren’t expecting it to work. My aim is to make learning relaxed, encouraging, and a little bit adventurous, whether you’re in my Cambridgeshire studio or joining me online.

“Creativity belongs to everyone.”

 Paula Armstrong

Over the years, my work has found its way into exhibitions across the UK and further afield – from London and Venice to the Florence Biennale this October. A piece of mine lives in the permanent collection at Northampton Museum, and I’ve been lucky to receive awards for my business, teaching, and artwork. You might have seen me on BBC Look East, read about me in the local press, or stumbled across my YouTube channel, where 8,000 subscribers join me to explore the possibilities of clay.

And because there’s more to life than ceramics… You might also find me walking Hetti, my one-eyed French Bulldog (and occasional studio supervisor), getting lost in a good story, or letting my still-slightly-Canadian accent slip out mid-conversation.

If you’d like to explore my work, join a workshop, or simply connect and share ideas, you’re in the right place – welcome.