As the name Sensei Pots suggests, the Japanese style and aesthetic has had a major influence on the development of Ian Beniston’s style and approach, reflecting classic and timeless shapes, with beautiful clean lines – producing functional art with origins in functional pottery.

Ian’s work is a fusion of East meets West – a modern take on classic pottery and ceramic art, working with clean curves and bold, beautiful, high risk glazes.

Beniston named his studio and gallery Sensei Pots (Sensei meaning ‘master’ in Japanese), as a tribute to Japanese Masters, considered to be some of the best potters in the world and a major influence on his development as a potter.

Function

Ian’s work is a contemporary interpretation of ancient storage vessels, creating stunning and ornamental works.

Ancient storage vessels have been used by civilizations for thousands of years. Pottery is one of the oldest art forms in the world and is believed to have originated in the Neolithic period, around 10,000 BC, with some ceramic vessels found in China dating back to 20,000 BC.

Ceramic pots were used to pull water, store food such as grains and rice, and played an important role in many cultural rituals.

The simple and functional origins of the craft are a major influence in Ian’s work