From Tenements to Thistles

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‘Born in Johnstone Castle, Scotland, the narrator grew up amidst crime and poverty but found solace in the beauty of nature. After moving to Western Australia in his early 30’s, he faced personal struggles that led him to pottery, which became a therapeutic outlet for his creativity. Inspired by landscapes from both Scotland and Australia, he infuses his ceramics with the colours and textures of his adventures.

Each piece reflects his journey of resilience, from the Northern Lights over Loch Lomond to the patterns of moss on rocks. With dreams of turning an abandoned cottage into a creative studio, he embraces life’s twists, guided by the enduring symbolism of the thistle—reminding him to stay true to himself and celebrate nature’s beauty.’

Background

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I was originally born in Scotland although Western Australia has been home now for almost 12 years. I was brought up in a small town called Johnstone Castle which is around 30 minutes from Glasgow, Scotland’s most populated city.

Johnstone Castle is a working-class community. Families are tight knit; kids play football in the street and neighbors share gossip over hedges and fences. There is also crime, poverty, violence and the exposure to drug and alcohol abuse.

I was raised in a tenement building for the first 16 years of my life. Government housing, a large grey pebble dashed brutalist structure which was home to 6 families. I had friends who lived above and below me, friends in the next tenement, grandparents on the same street and a primary school overlooking the shared communal garden.

My first memory of being exposed to alcoholism and violence was as a 7-year-old boy and trying to find an escape from the alcohol fueled anger could hear coming from the room next door. I couldn’t leave my bedroom so I would lose myself in the view from my window. Through the moisture laden timber framed window, I could see Ben Lomond and the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. A vast wilderness where I could lose myself, no people, no alcohol, no violence……just nature.

Photo of by Steven McGuigan - Loch Lomond National Park – The mountain ranges I could see from my bedroom window

At that age, the Highlands of Scotland were out of reach and had to remain a place of longing, but I found an escape.

The rows of monotonous grey tenements were surrounded by lush green woodland with carpets of soft bluebells were my love of exploring and roaming nature was first born. This was my escape. My escape from the loud voices, the arguments, the alcohol, the violence and the hopelessness. Roaming the woods I felt hopeful and free.

Photo of by Steven McGuigan - *The Bluebell Woods of my Childhood*

I know now, as an adult who is always trying to learn and grow that my exposure to alcoholism played a major role in my development as a child. I was a people pleaser, scared to make a mistake, put a foot wrong or cause anyone inconvenience for the fear that I may disliked, not loved or even abandoned.

I was a good student at school and flew below the radar. I was too shy to raise a hand and ask the questions I longed to ask, not confident enough to display my love for art because that’s not what was expected of me. I wanted to learn, I wanted to create, I wanted to soak it all in but above all else I wanted to escape.

The escape came when I left home at 16 and moved into another tenement in a neighbouring town with friends from school. I started to gain some freedom, I had a job, a car and a room of my own. Before long, the nights of being young and carefree soon changed to having a career and studying at university. Thoughts of having a creative outlet were soon forgotten.

I met a wonderful woman who I was lucky enough to call my wife for over 17 years. Together we have 3 wonderful children and as a young family we moved to Western Australia to start a new life in 2011.

Moving to another country with my young family provided the disconnection I needed from my childhood. It was in Australia with the support of my wife and young family that I started to understand who I was, why I was and who I endeavoured to become.

I started to find my creative side and I started to explore nature more.

Can you share with us how you first got started on your journey combining your love for pottery and nature?

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I always had a love for nature and being creative but my love for pottery came from a need to quieten the mind.

A broken heart and the end of a relationship had me feeling extremely low, worthless and battling depression. I tried to outrun my thoughts of worthlessness and spent days on the mountains. Places that felt special to me before suddenly felt dark and intimidating. The intrusive thoughts wouldn’t stop no matter which mountain climbed or which view I took in. I hit rock bottom. I was exhausted, out of shape and needed a change of pace.

On my birthday, I was given a gift of pottery lessons. Over a number of weeks I learned the basics of wheel throwing and fell in love with the endless possibilities.

Being behind the potter’s wheel provided me with the space I needed to quieten the mind and completely ground myself. No matter what thoughts are rumbling in my head prior to that moment, when my hands touch the lump of clay they are gone. It provides an almost meditative feeling of escape.

As I become stronger, I found myself getting back out in nature. With a clear and open mind, I can see unique inspiration all around me. I thought about my journey from Scotland to Australia and how the path I thought my life was taking had changed and how I struggled to accept that. Then I remembered the thistle.

Photo of by Steven McGuigan -*Thistle – Photographed in the Porongorup Ranges, Western Australia*

The thistle is Scotland’s national flower, we sing about it in our national anthem (The Flower of Scotland) and it is as synonymous to Scotland as the kilt and haggis are. I thought it only existed in Scotland. I was in total disbelief when I stumbled across one whilst hiking the Porongorup Ranges in Western Australia. Research when I got home revealed that in most of Australia the thistle is classified as weed and not only is it found in Australia but the world over.

From a weed in one country, to a celebrated national flower in another. Twists, turns and differing perspectives but the strength, beauty and individuality remain at its core no matter where you find it.

The thistle is the logo of my ceramic studio, Wan Affs (Scottish phrase meaning one of a kind).

The thistle reminds me of Scotland, the thistle reminds me its ok for my path to change, it’s ok for people to look on with differing perspectives but I must remain true to myself with strength and individuality. Combing my love for adventuring outdoors and being creative behind the wheel provides me with strength and individuality.

How do you typically find inspiration for your ceramic designs? What nature-inspired themes or elements do you most commonly feature?

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I find inspiration from my designs by immersing myself in nature. It can be trail running, hiking or kayaking. I can see inspiration in every single step I take in nature.

The adventures in the mountains are a common feature in my pottery. It’s in the mountains that I see the textures and colours in the rock formations or the bright bursting vibrant colours of the wildflowers.

Photo of by Steven McGuigan - Hiking to my overnight camping spot on the summit of Bluff Knoll Western Australia to capture the Milky Way

Recently, I’ve started to experiment with astrophotography. My overnight hikes often take me to the darkest parts of the state, away from the light pollution and on the peaks of the highest mountains closer to the night sky. From these vantage points I have been able to sit under the night sky and be truly humbled by the Milky Way.

I’m now in the experimental creative phase in trying different glazing techniques to try and best capture the vastness that is the Milky Way. This is part of the creative process that I love and it’s part of the journey. To me it’s more than just a piece of pottery. It’s planning the best time of year and month to view the Milky Way, It’s how I felt the morning I set off up the mountain with a pack full of gear, finding the perfect spot to pitch my tent and frame the view.

The thoughts that pour from my head into my journal as I wait for the night sky to darken, the anticipation on whether the clouds will clear and then capturing the planned spot. Back in the studio there are countless experiments with glazes combinations and application techniques to try and create the vision I have in my head. There are creative disasters, breakthroughs, mistakes and happy mistakes. It is all part of the process.

Photo of by Steven McGuigan - Milky Way over Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range National Park, Western Australia

Tell us about a time when you were hiking in the mountains and felt inspired to create pottery. Further to this, what was it about that experience that sparked your creativity?

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Visiting Scotland back in April 2024 I spent weeks roaming the Highlands. As a keen astrophotographer, I was aware that there was a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. I read about the lights being visible in Iceland and Norway but very rarely in Scotland.

I grabbed my pack and drove to the national park, armed with a flask of hot coffee I hiked to a quiet spot on the banks of Loch Lomond and waited for the sky to darken.

What I witnessed over the next few hours will forever be engrained in my memory. Loch Lomond holds a special place in my heart. Seeing the northern lights dance above my head felt like nature was letting me know it understood. In those moments, I felt like the luckiest human on the planet, I had no worries and no other thoughts. I was held in the gaze of the northern lights and didn’t want it to end.

When it eventually ended after a few hours, I knew I had to try and recreate the moment and perhaps even inspire others to get out there and look up. We spend a whole lot of time at desks looking at screens, in cars looking at roads or looking down at our screens. Get out there and look up.

I made these eco cups and tried to capture the dancing lights by layering 6 different glazes. There is always a story behind my work, a journey or an adventure and that’s what I love to share.

How does being surrounded by nature impact on your mental state and your approach to pottery?

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Nature plays a massive role in my mental state. I feel free and unburdened when I explore nature and roam the mountains. Battling depression and at my lowest point I returned to Scotland to heal, learn and grow.

I spent days roaming the Scottish Highlands, camping on mountain tops and letting my thoughts flow from my head on to paper. I always carry my journal on my adventures and as I sit on a mountain top there is a sense that the mountain listens and understands. What I think and what I write Is never judged. The ink flows to the paper and a little part of my heart and soul is left on the that mountain.

Photo of by Steven McGuigan - Buachaille Etive Mor, Glencoe, Scotland

Every adventure I embark on, every night sky I sit under, every mountain I climb or river I kayak, I learn more about myself and become stronger.

We don’t really belong in the metal and concrete boxes with little glass opening to the world. I’ve always felt more comfortable in nature surrounded by and feeling the elements. I can sense a change in my mental state if too long a time passes between adventures in nature. The mind is happier and more engaged in nature and I can approach my pottery from a more creative and energized space.

Photo of by Steven McGuigan - The Trossachs National Park, Scotland

Can you describe your typical creative process - how do you transform inspiration into finished ceramic pieces?

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My typical creative process starts with an adventure in nature. That can be a trail run, kayaking a river or a multi-day hike for astrophotography.

The essence of Wan Aff designs is to create functional one of kind nature inspired pottery. I have endless amounts of inspiration when I’m adventuring in nature. The colours and textures are endless and I capture these moments through photography.

Back in the home studio, I have a creative journal for my ideas, and I start to experiment with sketches of forms and notes on colours and textures.

The next step involves taking the sketch of a form onto the wheel and throwing that form with different clays. Every clay is different to throw and has properties that will lend itself to a particular form whether its slender and tall or shallower and wide. When I find a clay type that suits a particular form I can start to think about the glaze combinations.

Before taking the glaze combinations to the finished form, I will create a range of small test tiles which I can experiment with. The test tiles provide me with a good indication of how the finished piece will work and how the glaze will react over a smooth or textured surface.

The glaze combination is then applied to the form and if it survives the kiln firing then I hopefully have a piece of work that captures the inspiring moment I experienced in nature.

The inspiration is endless.

The techniques and combinations are endless.

This is what I love about nature and pottery.

You mentioned taking inspiration from the colours and textures of the Scottish and Australian landscapes. Can you describe a specific example of how a particular colour or texture from nature inspired a piece of pottery?

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On a recent hike in the southwest of Western Australia I hiked along a beach towards a local landmark known as Mt Many Peaks.

At the end of the beach and at the base of Mt Many Peaks lay massive rocks and boulders eroded over time by the harsh ocean waves.

Taking time to explore and look closely at these rocks is where I see nature at its best. From a distance they are just rocks, up close you can see the bright orange moss and feel the texture under your fingertips. These massive rocks may not have moved in thousands of years, they may be getting overwhelmed by the harsh unrelenting ocean waves but in that moment to me they feel so alive and warm.

I have tried to recreate that feeling in these tumblers that I made. I combined two different types of white and dark speckled clay to create a marbled textured base and then applied a layer of glaze with crystals to recrate the patterns and colours of the moss.

When you add a hot drink to these tumblers, they start to feel alive in the hands. You feel the need to move the tumbler around in your hands and trace your fingers over the surface. The exact urge I had when I fond these rocks at the base of Many Peaks.

How do the different seasons in Scotland and Australia influence your choice of materials and the overall feel of your pottery?

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I find myself drawn to light clay bodies with bright and dynamic glaze finishes that reflect the wildflower season in Australia which runs is between the months of July and November. Roaming the mountains and running through the forest I can see every colour imaginable.

As summer approaches in Australia, the colours start to fade under the intense sun, the lush green forests and bushland give way to a more subdued tone. The intense heat and dryness of the land presents a dangerous environment, so my attention turns to the ocean and rivers for inspiration.

As winter approaches, the temperature drops, and long days change to long dark nights. This is my favourite season in Australia. There is more rain and wind which reminds me of Scotland, and I can safely venture back onto the mountains.

I feel more connected to nature during this period as it affords me the most time in nature. I work more with darker textured clay bodies, and I try to create work that feels alive and unique to the touch.

How do you think your pottery reflects your connection to the outdoors?

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My hope is that my unique one-of-a-kind pottery reflects the endless inspirational moments that can be observed in nature.

From the different types of clay, the varying forms, the dynamic glazes and experimental combinations. I try to create pieces that want to be picked up and touched, looked at that little more closely. The same urge you get when you stumble across an odd rock, a pretty wildflower or gaze at the night sky.

We need to take more time to appreciate the outdoors and nature. I hope my connection to nature and how it inspires me is reflected in my work and inspires people to get out there and feel that same connection.

What ceramic techniques are you most proficient in, such as hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing, etc.? Do you have a preferred method of working with clay?

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I’ve learned from my pottery journey so far that there is a vast array of techniques to be explored can be overwhelming if you aren’t careful and focused.

I’m very new to pottery and while I feel my work has a certain style, there is room for further exploration and development and that style may become more dynamic.

I started off learning to throw on the wheel but have really enjoyed my recent experiments with hand building techniques which produce a more rustic and natural effect.

I have started to experiment with painting using underglazes and incorporating wood and stones into my work.

In short, I don’t think I will ever become proficient in a technique because there is so much scope for experimentation and that is the joy of pottery. Like nature, it’s always changing.

What are your dreams for your pottery and the outdoors? Where do you see yourself creating and exploring in the future?

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The dream is converting an abandoned cottage with a view of a mountain range into a home studio using reclaimed and recycled materials.

To continue creating unique pottery whilst adventuring in nature seeking inspiration.

I’m not sure if that cottage is in Australia or Scotland but I will embrace the twist and turns and remember the thistle as I journey towards it.

Words of Wisdom

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Never stop learning and growing.

If we stop learning and growing, we stop moving. When we stop moving life become stale and unexciting. We only have shot around this beautifully exquisite planet, enjoy it. Ask yourself the tough questions, wear your heart on your sleeve, don’t be afraid to cry and every now again, stop and look up.

To continue following our explorer Steven Mcguigan’s journey or simply want to reach out and say Hi, you can connect with them on the following accounts:

My website is: www.wanaffs.net

My Instagram is: @wanaffs

Steven McGuigan

To continue following our explorer Steven Mcguigan’s journey or simply want to reach out and say Hi, you can connect with them on the following accounts:

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Colin Hebb

Zeeshan A. Mirza