Lorna Bailey: Biography

Lorna Bailey was born on 10th February 1978, the daughter of Lionel and Jennifer Bailey and sister of Warren. She was brought up in Dimsdale View East, Porthill, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. She has lived throughout her life in and around the Wolstanton area of Newcastle-under-Lyme and it is this area from which the majority of the names for her designs are taken.

She attended Oaklands Nursery in Porthill, Ellison Primary School in Wolstanton and Wolstanton High School. From there she attended Stoke-on-Trent College leaving with a B.Tec National Diploma in Design (Ceramics). Stoke-on-Trent College is the successor to the Burslem School Of Art where Lorna`s illustrious predecessors in design, namely Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper, Charlotte Rhead and Fredrick Rhead and Mabel Leigh amongst others all studied Indeed due to her bold, striking designs Lorna is often referred to as the next Clarice Cliff !

Whilst flattered by this title Lorna prefers to be judged upon her own merits and is certainly not interested in replicating the works of anyone. As all young designers, Lorna left college influenced by great designers of the past but has now certainly developed her own distinct style.

The history of the present business of L.J.B Ceramics has its roots in the friendship of Lorna`s father with solicitor Geoff Stanway. Both Lionel and Geoff have known each other for over 15 years. Both had an interest in antiques, and living in the Potteries, this inevitably meant an interest in collectable ceramics. Both Lionel and Geoff regularly attended at the major antiques fairs around the midlands and Lorna always travelled with them. As a child, Lorna would often be given (mostly damaged!) collectables, and after initially collecting Wade Whimsies, Lorna moved to collecting Art Deco ceramics, notably pieces by Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper. This collecting gave Lorna a hands on feel for these works and led to Lorna`s love of bold colours and unusual shape design.

The business of L.J.B. came about whilst Lorna was a student at Stoke-on-Trent College. A major Local Pottery, Wood & Sons, had gone into liquidation. Its assets were being sold and at the same time the owner of the Old Ellgreave Pottery (where Charlotte Rhead had worked whilst at Wood & Son) was seeking to retire. Accordingly Lionel purchased a large amount of the Wood & Son Assets took over the Old Ellgreave Pottery and set up initially producing traditional hand painted wares e.g. Toby Jugs & decorated ware. Lorna spent all her spare time, when not at college, working in the business earning pocket money by painting for the business and experimenting with her own works. Over a period of time trade buyers visiting the premises gradually purchased items of Lorna's work in addition to more traditional wares. Slowly sales of Lorna's work increased so that by early 1998 Lorna and two of the hand painting staff were producing work exclusively designed by Lorna.

Lorne Spicer of Collect It! magazine attended the 1998 Ceramic Showcase. Lorne had already seen items of Lorna's work at Collectors Fairs around the country but at this show she met Lorna who was exhibiting her designs. From that meeting a commission for Collect It! Was discussed. The ultimate outcome was an order for 250 "Astro" Sugar Sifters which were to be sold in the July 1998 edition of Collect It! Magazine. The magazine also featured an on Lorna and her designs. The response was truly amazing! The commission sold out within hours of the magazines release and accordingly a further commission of 250 Vases was agreed for the next issue. This edition sold out before the magazine officially reached the newsagents! The demand for information on Lorna became so great that a Collectors Club was formed which has grown to over 1000 members world-wide.

As a result of her success in 1999 Lorna was honoured as Midlands Businesswoman of the year for 1998.

Lorna's prolific designs continue and recently introduced is a range of eye-catching furniture and plans are a foot for the transfer of some designs onto textiles.