Turning Earth

Turning Earth was the first open-access ceramics makerspace to open in the UK, founded by sister-brother team Tallie and Lewis Maughan. They launched their pioneering studio model in Hoxton, East London in 2013 with a second site in Lee Valley, London in 2017. Visit: e2.turningearth.uk Tallie, Turning Earth’s Creative Director opened Turning Earth in 2013 after using similar open-access ceramics studios while touring the US as a theatre manager. She is inspired by the ceramics culture across America, where there is huge engagement and where value is placed on the work of hobby makers. Her vision is to make ceramics an accessible craft that anyone can practice, whatever their reason for doing so. Tallie has a background in sales, and has worked in fundraising in the charity sector and in merchandise and management for large-scale theatre projects. She graduated with First Class Honours and a gold medal in English from Trinity College Dublin. After a career in health services Lewis, Turning Earth’s Managing Director, joined in 2014 and now oversees the technical processes. He is as likely to be found on his knees mending a kiln as he is to be giving a lecture to explain the principles of electricity to aspiring potters who haven’t ‘done science’ since secondary school. A charismatic communicator, he has a diploma from the London School of Journalism. Lewis is a devoted student of martial arts and has an innate sympathy with the Taoist philosophy absorbed by Bernard Leach in Japan.