Our Story

Hannah’s journey began in 1991, sparked by a sell-out degree show at Bristol University. Drawing inspiration from the world of taxidermy, amongst the favourites in her collection were the little black crows she'd made. The overwhelming response turned a student project into a professional path.

Faced with a surge of orders for her show-stopping designs, Hannah secured a local studio and officially launched her business. In 1992, a pivotal grant allowed her to purchase her first kiln, fueling a prolific era of sculptural creatures - from her beloved birds and playful fish to bold, wall-mounted moose heads! Today, Hannah's work continues to breathe life into clay, instilling character and personality into every creature that emerges from her kiln.

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Humour has always been evident in her work, and probably helped her ride the storm of two recessions. She gradually got her work on display in galleries and shops around the country and abroad, and gained some very loyal collectors along the way.

Hannah took a break in 1999 to have her children, and after a couple of years off, she found a local shared studio and started working part-time. At this point she also decided to change the way she worked, and started slip-casting, still birds! After much experimenting Hannah joined forces with a Sri Lankan manufacturer and launched her first ranges of tableware in 2011.

This side of the business really took-off, getting some of her designs made in Sri Lanka meant Hannah could focus on developing new designs instead of repeatedly making the old ones herself. She added egg cups, salt and pepper shakers and money boxes to blend her love of sculpture with more functional designs, and now all gift-boxed, they proved so popular that the business quickly grew into what we know and love today.

Hannah Turner is a small but perfectly formed team of Hannah, of course, Dave, daughter Megan, Charlie, Deborah, Emily and Betty the dog. Here you can see Megan sponging Hannah's new flying ducks!

Hannah's designs have sold all around the world to beautiful shops and websites like Anthropologie (US and UK), The Woodland Trust and Graham & Green. Hannah is proud to supply many small wonderful independent shops, as well as a few bigger well known stores!

Today the business is doing what it can to reduce waste and look after our environment, all of the packaging is recycled cardboard, with no plastics involved. Hannah is always trying to be as sustainable as possible, and she has joined forces with two conservation projects to help protect the animals that are the inspiration for the business.