About Dóttir Studio

I’m a ceramic artist working from my home studio in Hertfordshire, where I make illustrated vessels and sculptural forms slowly, by hand, in small, considered runs.

My work sits somewhere between the useful and the imaginative. I’m interested in objects that feel both familiar and slightly otherworldly — pieces that live comfortably in the home while holding a sense of imagination.

I’m interested in how clay can hold character and feeling, and how everyday objects can still feel a little magical. Each piece is made entirely by me, allowing time for ideas to develop, surfaces to evolve, and for the work to find its own rhythm.

Jess King

 

 

About Dóttir Studio

Dóttir Studio is the creative practice of UK-based ceramic artist Jess King. From my home studio in rural Hertfordshire I make small runs and one-of-a-kind ceramic works that combine form, surface and narrative — pieces that feel playful, curious and quietly imaginative.

My background is in illustration and surface pattern design, and the language of line and story-telling carries through everything I make. Each piece is handcrafted by me — from building the form to painting the surface — so every object carries its own character and imperfection.

Taking inspiration from nature, folklore and memory, I work with both thrown and hand-built forms, exploring how clay can hold pattern, texture and a sense of wonder.

After completing a MA in Illustration at the University of Brighton and many years in commercial design, I found my way to clay after the birth of my daughter. That shift sparked a return to studio-based art rather than design for others, and Dóttir Studio was born from that desire to make things that feel meaningful to me and to those who connect with them.

I continue to learn and evolve — studying ceramics, testing glazes, exploring new forms — with a focus on work that speaks to both use and imagination.

The Name Dóttir Studio

Dóttir means “daughter” in Icelandic. I chose the name because Iceland holds a special place in our family’s story — it’s where I fell in love and then married my husband, and it was soon after that my journey with clay began. It felt right to name this work after something that carries both personal meaning and a sense of lineage.

Studio Practice

My work is released in small collections throughout the year. These runs are studio-led — shaped by time, curiosity and the rhythms of my life as an artist and a mum.