Jeremy Leach

Jeremy Leach is the younger son of David Leach, OBE and the grandson of Bernard Leach, CH, CBE. Born into this well-known family of potters in 1941 at St. Ives, he was educated at Dauntsey’s School, starting a pottery there – followed by an initial pottery training at Lowerdown Pottery, Bovey Tracey, then at the Central School and later Camberwell Schools of Art and Craft. At this time he made a cultural visit to the Lebanon, potting and exhibiting solo there in 1965. Later an interest in Chinese calligraphy developed which is evident in some of his work today.

He opened a small workshop in Oxford after which there followed a period of illness. During this time he taught pottery at Morely College and Southlands College of Education – Harrow and Merchant Taylor Public Schools. Jeremy has made frequent visits to potters in West Germany on a part work/part vacation basis. He continues to work from home making his own stoneware and porcelain pots, both functional and individual pieces. Jeremy has made a study of using eucalyptus ash for Chun glazes and in 1987 he had a video made of his work which is available for sale.

For three years from 1998 to 2001, he worked on his own at Haytor, Devon. However, most of his pieces come from working with his father at Lowerdown. He has exhibited extensively in the UK and various countries abroad including Denmark and Australia and is at present in touch with folk in Japan where he has some work.