Shirley Clifford discovered her passion for pottery after joining the London Potters Guild in 1992. She has participated in many exhibitions and events and teaches ceramics from her private studio in Ingersoll.

For Shirley, vessel making is an art form that has intrigued her for thirty years. Her response to the simplicity of clay is sensual and immediate because it has such a powerful tactile drawing force. The complications of living in a fast-paced, busy lifestyle are balanced by the quiet satisfaction of exploration, discovery, and creation.

Shirley works extensively with the Raku process, which involves a unique firing method resulting in beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces. It has been said that Raku, which has its origins in sixteenth-century Japan, is more of a state of mind or attitude than a technique.