Heather and Michel Ducos have been making pots for a living since 1972. Heather started  playing with clay as a child whilst on holidays in Devon and Cornwall. She was attracted by the clay she found on the river side and made her first “pots”. She later trained as an Occupational Therapist and learned the rudiments of pottery, later setting up ceramic workshops in hospitals where she worked to use it as  part of therapy. On her days off she went to CILLADON Pottery, in Walthamstow, to help Pris McGirr, the potter and to learn as much as possible.

Michel’s earliest creative efforts were during the war in Algeria (then part of France) when he used
the lumps of plaster from the walls of bombed out houses to carve into all sorts of shapes. As part of his studies at Bordeaux University, he came to London to do his year as a French Assistant at Hackney Downs School. He met Pris and her husband Don in a pub in Walthamstow and subsequently went to the 
pottery to help on Saturdays and started learning a bit about Pottery. Heather and Michel met there and later, when Heather started producing a few pots in her house, Michel would  come and help as well as using the house cellars to make candles. Having decided that they needed more space to work and wanting to make pottery full time, in 1973, after a long quest, they found a house in Alford and set up their pottery while still working part time, Heather as an OT and Michel as a Thatcher’s assistant. The
pottery became busier and they were able to leave their jobs and become full  time  potters. The business grew into a production pottery with several helpers over the years and in 1978 they moved to their present premises on Commercial Road. These larger premises allowed them to increase production to an average of 15 to 20000 per year depending on the orders, all thrown by Heather and finished, glazed, decorated and fired by Michel. They have used and worn out several wheels and the latest kiln is number 11. They have processed between 5 and 8 tons of clay each year depending on the demand.

Retirement plans: After over 50 years, Heather and Michel are planning to retire at some stage but 
​Michel's ability to retire has so far been laughable and he has been in most days. "There is so much to do, so many things to make!" tends to be the reason given. Do visit his instagram page: ducosmichelsculptor