Made from Scratch: Celebrating Ceramicist Julia Carter Preston

Julia Carter Preston studied at Liverpool College of Art in the 1950s and became a potter. She revived the demanding technique of ‘sgraffito’, the ancient art of scratching patterns into wet clay. She made this her own style, decorating each piece freehand, saying, “I often have no idea what the finished piece will look like and literally create it from scratch”.

This display celebrates the centenary of Carter Preston’s birth. She lived and worked in Liverpool all her life. She exhibited widely at arts venues in the city, including Liverpool University, the Bluecoat Display Centre, and the Walker Art Gallery. She also made commissions for local churches, schools, public buildings and individual collectors.

Arts organisations in Liverpool have joined together through the Hope Carter Preston Foundation to commemorate Julia. You can discover her story and her art at the Walker, the Bluecoat, Victoria Gallery and Museum, Liverpool Hope University Creative Campus and Bluecoat Display centre until December 2026.