Bryan & Donna Arkle

Bryan was born in 1963 in Penshaw, Sunderland. When he left school he went straight into his families builders and decorating business. He learnt all he could about the building trade and continued to work with his family for 11 years. He then felt he needed a change and went to work for the local council as a housing inspector. After 10 years working there, it was taken over by a housing company and the combination of the changes at work and ill health affected his life. It was then that he started 'playing' with clay. He took to this immediately and found that he was wanting to make every spare minute he had. At this stage setting the ceramics up as a business seemed like the way forward. However in 2003 he had a major heart attack which has left him with long term heart problems. This however has not deferred him from continuing to make his own very unique, often humorous work, much to the amusement and appreciation of his customers.

Donna was born in 1966 in Weymouth. After traveling around for a few years with her former partner she settled down in Washington, working as a communications officer for the Police. In 1996 due to health problems she was medically retired at the age of 30. With health issues being a continual problem Donna returned to one of her first loves and that was arts and crafts. Working with the clay did not appeal to her as much as it did to Bryan, however she found that the glazing side of ceramics held a fascination for her and most of the glazes they use on their work are made by her.