Returning to the UK in 2016, I realised I wanted to find a way to be in the studio more often. I was able to get Fridays off, and so I made the leap to Turning Earth, an open-access community studio. Perfect! It was a bit of a financial commitment - £150 a month, much more than my classes previously. I thought I'd see how it went, and made sure to use every hour that I was able to.

I started with an 8 week evening throwing course with Ben Sutton (@PottedBen), and then joined as a member in March 2016. The space is so serene - a plant filled railway arch - and the shelves were filled with beautiful work from very talented makers, it was very inspiring.

During these years, I was debating whether to go into education and follow ceramics as a career path. The Great Pottery Throwdown had started, and the world of pottery was becoming more and more 'trendy'. I was developing my skills, making all kinds of things, throwing big and throwing new shapes, hand sculpting and working on illustration, mishima and testing glazes. I threw 8kg lampshades, made teapots and delicately walled cups, lidded jars, the lot! I tried all of the challenges by the Throwdown, and applied to get onto the show a few times.