For our new Blog series, ‘Behind the Scenes – Artisans in the Funeral Sector’ we are delighted to share a video from the talented ceramicist Ann Bates (video courtesy of Michael Hannah and the Buxton Museum and Art Gallery).
Working from her studio in Derbyshire, Ann creates beautiful hand-crafted ceramic urns that are designed not simply as a final resting place for ashes, but as deeply personal objects of remembrance. Ann’s work is rooted in the belief that the vessel chosen to honour a loved one should reflect the individuality of the life it represents.
Nature, ancient landscapes and Britain’s prehistoric standing stones all influence Ann’s distinctive style. The textures, markings and gentle forms found in her work echo the landscape and draw inspiration from ancient burial traditions, creating timeless pieces that feel both contemporary and deeply connected to history. Many of her urns have found a resting place within modern stone barrows, offering families an alternative and meaningful place to remember those they love.
In this behind-the-scenes video, where Ann is handcrafting a Slab Urn for someone with a deep affinity with the sea, you see the care and thought that goes into the process. Every slab of clay is shaped by hand, every surface carefully refined, and every detail considered with patience and love. There is something profoundly moving about an object created slowly, by hand, and with genuine compassion. Ann’s work beautifully demonstrates how the creativeness, experience, and skill of an artisan can help transform remembrance into something deeply personal, lasting and full of meaning.
Ann is a much-valued member of whiteballoon and we love seeing her new creations. To find out more about her journey in to the field of ceramics and creating funerary urns, take a look at the Q&A she did for whiteballoon insights. To see more images of the beautiful ceramics Ann creates, visit our whiteballoon Inspiration pages for Unique Funeral Urns and Ceramic Funeral Urns, or visit Ann Bates Ceramics.