About 

All in the detail - painting eyes on a pottery pet


Pottery Pets by Alice Johnson 

Pottery Pets by Alice Johnson

Alice Johnson is a British ceramicist based in London, whose work is rooted in joy, humour, and a deep sense of nostalgia. Through playful forms, bold colour palettes, and expressive shapes, she creates pieces that tell stories, spark memories, aiming to bring smiles to those who encounter them. 

At the heart of her practice is Pottery Pets, where Alice handcrafts bespoke ceramic sculptures of people’s beloved animals. Each piece captures the character and spirit of the pet in a whimsical yet deeply personal way; transforming their presence into a lasting, tangible memory.

Alice’s goal is to create more than just an ornament; she aims to craft heirlooms. These sculptures are made to be cherished, shared, and passed down through generations. As she puts it, “I love the idea of someone saying, ‘this was Grandma’s cat,’ as they hold a piece that carries both sentimental and artistic value.”





How it started

The first pets I made were back in 2015 at a pottery course of my two beloved spaniels. I then made a few pets for friends and then it snowballed from there. I feel very lucky that this is what I get to as a job, and am so grateful to all of those who have faith in my pet pottering abilities, they really all are a joy to make.




The Pet Making Process

Each pet is completely bespoke, lovingly handmade and painted. They are made from earthenware clay where I constantly look at the photo of the pet as I make. The clay must be bone dry and then goes into the kiln for its first firing which turns the clay into ceramic. I then hand paint the features with underglaze paints and then they get dunked in transparent glaze and have a second firing, which makes them nice and shiny and the colours more zingy.



T&Cs 


Pottery Pets are not toys and not suitable for children. As they are made from ceramic, they may have some sharp edges and take care if accidentally broken.  




Please go to Order Information for further details.



Alice painting pets in her Hoxton studio
Photography by Sophie Davidson
Portrait of Alice at home
Photography by Sophie Davidson
Work in progress
All in the detail - painting eyes on a pottery pet
Photography by Sophie Davidson