Stephen Murfitt
Stephen Murfitt is a celebrated ceramic artist whose work is defined by its expressive forms, intricate textures, and innovative firing techniques.
With formal training at the Cambridge School of Art and West Surrey College of Art and Design in Farnham, where he earned a BA (Hons) in Ceramics in 1977, Stephen went on to complete an Art Teacher’s Certificate at Middlesex Polytechnic. After his studies, he began his career teaching art and design while developing his own practice, eventually serving as ceramics and sculpture tutor at Marlborough College in Wiltshire. Later, he returned to the Fens, where he established his studio in a converted Methodist chapel—a setting that deeply influences his work.
Stephen’s pieces are known for their organic, hand-built and wheel thrown forms. His surfaces, achieved with layered slips, oxides, and glazes, evoke the natural textures of rock and earth, giving his vessels a grounded, timeless quality. A key element of Stephen’s practice is his mastery of Raku firing, a process that involves removing pieces from the kiln at high temperatures and allowing them to cool rapidly, often in combustible materials.
Beyond his personal practice, Stephen is a passionate educator, known for his encouraging and insightful approach. His masterclasses at The Waldron offer students a hands-on experience with his creative and and firing techniques.
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