page_title: Roger Michell (studio potter)
section_title: Commissions and lecturing
hierarchical_section_title: Roger Michell (studio potter) / Early career / Commissions and lecturing
caption_attribution_description: English: Bodmin Hospital
context_page_description: Roger Michell was a British studio potter, artist, book illustrator, writer and poet. Although foremost a potter, his deep insight, curiosity and his singular skills enabled him to work across a range of disciplines. He was a prolific reader, often reading several books a week. His mind was constantly working on future projects, he had a vivid and complex imagination which was evident in his work. He was most known for the design phenomena, the Walking Tea set, endearing and quintessentially English, the tableware on legs with over-sized Mary Jane shoes. During the nineteen seventies and eighties, thousands of these tea sets were sold, either hand made from Lustre Pottery studio or manufactured by Carltonware in Stoke-on-Trent.
context_section_description: Michell sold the family home and moved into his studio. He was producing decorative, thrown and turned earthenware items for local and London galleries where he also exhibited. He developed a line of cast tableware, instantly recognisable by their strong, classical shapes and rich cobalt blue glaze although copper and manganese were also used. They were decorated in wax relief and enamel, with humorous designs such as snorkelling dogs and swimming penguins. They were a popular tourist line however Roger also experimented with one off items such as bowls, teapots and cups. He also worked on private commissions in the manner of 18th century potteries alone or with an assistant. Among these were 3 porcelain dinner services consisting of over 100 pieces each and decorated using a particular theme – a Greek mythological dinner service, an insect theme and an astrological service. Roger made teapots, both serious and novelty, for collectors and private clients. In 1989, strapped for cash with a young family to raise, he began to lecture part-time for Falmouth University on the BA Hons Ceramics degree.
  In 2001 Michell was commissioned by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to become Artist in Residence for a new PFI Bodmin Hospital, He commissioned various local artists, including his former wife Napiorkowska, and designed and made the blue glazed brick wall bearing the hospital's name.
  Prior to this Bristol Royal Hospital for Children commissioned Mike Hughes, poet, academic, BA Hons Ceramic degree Course Leader, Bristol University to decorate the walls of the hydrotherapy pool. Michell illustrated Hughes' poetry which in turn was transferred onto white, manufactured tiles. These formed a tiled mural which depicted various Bristolian scenes, among others, such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Michell went on to commission art for 2 more hospitals before moving his studio to France in 2003 shortly after marrying Julia on Christmas Eve so that he could never forget their anniversary!
  In France he was able to spend more time developing his ideas and revisiting old ones such as the fashion models he and Sally Tuffin Dennis Chinaworks had collaborated on in 1985. He installed a gas kiln. In 2005 he design 2 more limited edition Walking Ware teasets using porcelain rather than earthenware. Here he found time to develop his personal work whilst also making teapots for collectors.
caption: Bodmin hospital with brickwork and lettering by Michell
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