Video and pictures: Shrewsbury potter selling her tableware to top chefs

Gill Thompson has sold her Sytch Farm Studio tableware to Hairy Bikers Si King and Dave Myers, Brompton Cookery School, Tom Kerridge's The Coach in Marlow, Hampton Manor, Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 Restaurant, and many more.

The 44-year-old, from Dorrington, was the head of the art department at Sundorne School in Shrewsbury before leaving to pursue her business full time in July last year.

She said: "Over the last 20 years as a hobby for myself I made pots for friends, then I had the opportunity to take a table at a show which I was reluctant about, but in a couple of hours I thought 'oh, crikey maybe I should take it more seriously'.

"I didn't realise there was such a liking for the stuff."

Mrs Thompson and her husband Jon Thompson, 47, met Tom Kerridge at Chris Evans' festival CarFest in August 2014, where he put in an order, and has since featured Sytch Farm Studio's tableware in his latest book.

Mrs Thompson added: "He said he's been looking for a bowl like mine for a dessert he was making, and his wife ordered a lot of pots for their beach house."

A month later Mr and Mrs Thompson visited his new restaurant, The Hand in Flowers. Mrs Thompson said: "We were shown all round the kitchens and treated like special guests."

Over the course of the following year they slowly had more orders for restaurants and their business increased.

At the BBC Good Food Show in November the majority of the chefs used Sytch Farm products in their stage demonstrations.

She said: "They like the choice. It's all made by hand so they can choose how high and what colours they'd like. I try and have standard shapes in stock but people can come and order their own bespoke shapes."

She added: "I've worked with chefs at the top of their game, they really care about what their food looks like they're interested in matching shapes, colours and textures to make it as visually appealing as possible.

"It's at another level of service, the Michelin Star Chefs."

Mrs Thompson continued: "The support we've had off people is incredible. It's nice for something that's a craft to be so valued.

"I originally gave them as gifts. One of my best friends Mel has got cupboards full of the stuff. It really is a hobby that has become a business."

The clay used for the tableware is from a cliff edge in St Agnes in Cornwall, where Mrs Thompson grew up.

She said: "It's my home town clay. The clay is very strong. It's high fired stoneware so there's nothing delicate about it. Everything that I make can go in the dishwasher."

Handmade in Shropshire, Sytch Farm Studios have also been supported by Ludlow Food Centre and Booka Book shop in Oswestry.

This year they will be at Ludlow Food Festival in September and the NEC, Birmingham, in June.

Mrs Thompson said: "It's all been a big learning curve. It's been fabulous and really good fun, and we've met lots of really fantastic people."

For more information visit Sytch Farm Studios on Facebook or Instagram, or call 01743 718908 to arrange a visit.