John Ryan

Master craftsman John Ryan studied ceramics at Thomastown, County Kilkenny, where he finished top of his class. After working for several of Ireland’s top studio potters, John then travelled extensively throughout the Middle East and Japan where he developed his skills as a potter.

Upon returning to Ireland, he set up his own studio in the rural heartland of County Sligo, where he has been making functional and decorative stoneware ceramics for the past 20 years. John draws inspiration from the simplicity and beauty of the surrounding landscape of the west of Ireland.

All the pieces are hand thrown by John on the potter’s wheel, and then fired to stoneware temperature before being decorated in food safe glazes which John has made himself. The colour Horseshoe was inspired by the stone-grey Horeshoe Mountain in Sligo that John infuses into his hand-thrown work.