Katharine Pleydell-Bouverie, born in Berkshire in 1895 began her journey into the world of ceramics in London in the 1920s. Where she encountered the artist Roger Fry which sparked her fascination with the craft. She was inspired by this encounter and began formal training at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, apprenticing under the esteemed Dora Billington.
In 1924, Pleydell-Bouverie's artistic trajectory took a transformative turn when she joined Bernard Leach's pottery in St. Ives, a seminal moment that solidified her commitment to the medium. Under Leach's guidance, alongside notable contemporaries such as Michael Cardew and Shoji Hamada, she honed her skills and embarked on a lifelong exploration of ash glazes—a journey that would distinguish her legacy in the ceramic world.
Establishing her own pottery at the family estate in Berkshire, Pleydell-Bouverie crafted a sanctuary for her artistic pursuits. The Cole Pottery, named after her family's estate, became a hub of innovation, fuelled by her meticulous craftsmanship and deepening expertise in ash-glazing techniques. Following the upheaval of World War II, Pleydell-Bouverie relocated to Kilmington Manor in Wiltshire, where she continued to work until her passing in 1985.
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