The History Of Bray Works

At just seventeen, most people expect you to still be figuring out what you want to do, busy with UCAS and what path you want to take, what dreams you want to chase.

For me, that spark lit early. I’ve always been drawn to making things with my hands, shaping raw materials into something meaningful, something that could last. That passion slowly grew into what is now Bray Works, my designer pottery brand built from equal parts vision, ambition, and stubborn belief that nothing shouldn’t limit greatness.

My journey didn’t start with clay, at least not the clay I use now. When I was younger, I spent hours sculpting with anything I could find: cardboard, wire, scrap wood, even leftover modeling clay from school projects. I loved seeing how form could change depending on the tools, pressure, angle, and intention. Over the years I experimented with sculpture, drawing, and mixed-media art, trying to understand what made certain pieces stand out and what made others forgettable. Those early experience taught me patience, creativity, and the importance of giving every piece a story.

Pottery came later, almost by accident. I stumbled across a tutorial out of curiosity, not expecting it to change anything, yet the moment that the video ended, I was obsessed. Until, I had built my pottery studio from the ground and started making. It felt natural, like the medium I had always been meant to work with. I spent months learning different techniques: wheel throwing, hand-building, trimming, glazing, experimenting with textures, and refining shapes.

I made a lot of mistakes, crooked bowls, collapsing walls, drips of glaze where they shouldn’t be, but each mistake pushed me to get better. And soon, my pieces started to carry a level of quality and intention that felt like my signature.

That’s what Bray Works represents: craftsmanship with a purpose. Every piece is designed, shaped, and finished by hand. No shortcuts, no mass production, no rushing the process. I believe pottery should feel alive making something you want to hold, admire, and use every day. I focus on clean, sculptural forms with a modern edge, blending artistic expression with functional design. Whether it’s a vase, a mug, or a decorative sculpture, I want it to feel like a piece that elevates the space it lives in.

Quality is everything to me. If a piece isn’t balanced, if the glaze doesn’t feel right, I start again. Bray Works is built on the idea that proper craftsmanship matters, I can create work that stands beside professionals who’ve been doing this for decades. I’m still learning and I hope I never stop, but I already take pride in knowing that each piece leaving my studio represents the highest standard one can achieve.

Starting a business at seventeen definitely isn’t simple. There were moments of doubt, moments when the cost of materials or the time needed for production made everything feel overwhelming. But watching people connect with my work, listening to them describe how a piece makes them feel, or seeing it displayed proudly in their home, reminds me why I started. Bray Works is more than just a pottery brand; it’s a vision for what creativity can look like when you trust yourself enough to pursue it fully.

As I continue to grow, learn, and refine my craft, I want Bray Works to become a symbol of youthful ambition, artistic integrity, and the power of starting early. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see how far these hands can take me.

Bray Works by Henry Clapp