Moorcroft our designers

EMMA BOSSONS FRSA 
Head of Design

Emma’s professional career started in ceramics with Mason’s Ironstone, a subsidiary of Wedgwood, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, where she worked as a ceramic painter as part of a government training scheme.

In 1996, at the age of 20, she joined Moorcroft Pottery as a painter, before being promoted to the Design Studio in 1998, becoming the youngest designer in Moorcroft’s history. Her first major range, Hepatica, launched in 2000 and was an immediate success. This was followed in 2001 by Queen’s Choice, a design that is still one of our best-selling and most iconic ranges.

In 2002, Emma’s Golden Jubilee design was judged to be of such high quality that the Queen consented to the use of the Royal Cypher on the base of each piece in the collection. A string of successful designs endorsed the phenomenal rise to fame of a designer, who became the youngest female member of the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts. When the Royal Mail produced a series of first day covers to acknowledge Stoke-on-Trent ceramicists, three leading RSA members were chosen, Josiah Wedgwood, Sir Henry Doulton and Emma Bossons.

Emma is renowned for her vibrant, richly detailed designs that often draw inspiration from nature — flowers, fruits, butterflies and landscapes feature strongly in her work. Over her career she has travelled extensively for inspiration, with imagery from countries including Australia, Canada, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, and the United States appearing in her artistic repertoire.

Emma has now taken on the role of Head of Design at Moorcroft. She has already overseen the development of Moorcroft's inaugural pottery advent box, while simultaneously creating the new Moorcroft Home brand, a fresh initiative to bring Moorcroft artistry into every space. Her innovative spirit has already breathed new life into Moorcroft and as she looks to the future, Emma remains dedicated to ensuring that Moorcroft continues to be synonymous with artistic brilliance.

 

Nicola Slaney
Designer

Nicola Slaney, known as Nicky, studied surface pattern design at Staffordshire University, earning her degree in 1997. This paved the way for a career in decorative arts, and that very same year, she embarked on her professional journey at Moorcroft.

She is a versatile designer and her creations range from affordable range pieces to rare and prestigious designs. Anna Lily, one of Moorcroft’s best-selling ranges was first designed by Nicky in 1998, and is still in production today, lovingly freshened-up with new shapes each year.

Nicky favours creating floral, fruit and landscape designs, often inspired by travels with her family. During her 29 years at Moorcroft, her creations have taken us on a global adventure, showcasing sights from the vibrant streets of London to the breath taking landscapes of Central Park, and from historic Jerusalem to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and beyond.

Nicky also has a great love for the Arts and Crafts movement and its unique design style which she enjoys adapting to reflect her own distinct design vision. Innovative and gifted, Nicky’s reputation continues to grow by the year. Her work is characterized by an exquisite attention to detail and a thoughtful use of colour, which brings each of her pieces to life in a way that captivates collectors and admirers alike.

As she looks to the future, Nicky remains a beacon of creativity, poised to explore new themes and techniques that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the world of design.