My name is Jana Gilfillan

Gilliflower Pottery is named after the apple orchard my husband planted in 2014. We have a variety of eating and juicing apples, among others the rare Cornish native, the gilliflower — a delicious apple and a beautiful weeping tree. Just below the orchard is my studio, in what once was a dilapidated outbuilding. Here I have my wheel, my kiln and a little woodburner to take the chill off in the winter.

I have been making pots since 2019, after learning pottery at a series of evening classes at our local college. After many years in the NHS, I am very lucky to now be making pots full time.

I grew up in South Africa and the clear African skies and natural world are reflected in my work. So are memories of pots for sale along the road and in my parents' house. Equally important inspiration comes from the ever changing Cornish landscape and the birds in my garden. But more than these tangible influences, for me pottery is the physical expression of feelings hard to express in words. Perfection in a pot is something elusive of course, but the search is what keeps me excited.