Meet the Creator of These Cute Panda Ceramics
Newcastle-based creator Xiaoyu Jiang runs Fatfinger Atelier who are joining us at Living North's Christmas Fair at Newcastle Racecourse from 22nd to 25th October
It’s an unusual name. What exactly is Fatfinger Atelier?
Here at Fatfinger Atelier we mix contemporary Chinese ceramics with hands-on creative experiences. Our ceramics include a colourful and very popular Panda collection, and we also run stained glass and silver clay jewellery workshops here in Newcastle. I’m really interested in how creativity can become part of everyday life – whether that means drinking from a cup that makes you smile, or spending a few hours making something of your own. We’re also preparing to open Bitter Water, a new café that will bring our ceramics and interest in drinks together in a physical space.
What’s your background?
My background is actually in finance. I completed my undergraduate degree and two masters degrees in the UK, in Actuarial Mathematics and Investment Management, before spending two years working as an actuary and financial analyst. My work involved building data models and developing insurance products, so life was often fast paced and demanding. When I returned to the UK, I decided to take a gap year to rest and explore something different. During that time, I noticed the local enthusiasm for art and making things by hand and it made me think about China’s long relationship with ceramics, and how I could share some of that heritage with people here. I wanted to introduce pieces that combined Jingdezhen craftsmanship with a contemporary style that would appeal to different generations. Our Panda collection became a central part of that idea, although it has since attracted customers of lots of different ages. We also began offering workshops because I wanted to create opportunities for people to step away from everyday pressures and concentrate on making something. That sense of slowing down remains at the heart of what we do.
Tell us about the inspiration for your designs.
For me, it’s about combining a recognisably Chinese character with colour and a sense of playfulness. Each cup in our Panda collection has a little panda to keep you company. It gives an everyday object a personality. As part of the design team, I focus on understanding what customers in the UK respond to, exploring the shapes they enjoy using and developing the collection’s colour combinations. We apply colour with sponges to create a soft, dappled finish rather than flat blocks of colour. I think of the colours as little marshmallow clouds floating across the surface. That lightness is an important part of the collection: the pieces are practical enough to use every day, but also bring colour and character to a shelf or table.
Where do you source your materials?
The clays used in our Panda collection come from Jingdezhen, which is also where our ceramics studio is based. Keeping production there allows our team to work closely with the materials and the making process, helping us maintain the quality and finish we want. And it is a collaborative process. My role connects what we learn from customers in the UK with the work of our team in Jingdezhen, particularly when it comes to colour and preferences for different forms.
What’s the best part of what you do?
It’s the opportunity to help people find their own connection with creativity. That might be through a little panda cup that becomes part of their morning routine, or through making a piece of stained glass or a silver clay ring. I don’t believe there is one template for art. Everyone brings their own ideas, taste and interpretation. In our workshops, I want people to have room to express that and enjoy the process, without feeling that their work has to look exactly like someone else’s. They leave with something personal, as well as an experience that belongs to them.
What are you currently working on?
Our biggest project is Bitter Water, a café we’re preparing to open on Newcastle’s Westgate Road, where we plan to serve drinks using ceramics from our own collection. The name has a personal connection. I’m originally from Lanzhou in north-west China, and nearby, there is a town called Kushui – literally ‘bitter water’. It is known for its roses, which have a rich floral fragrance and are used in products including rose tea and preserves. I’d love to bring that connection to my hometown into our menu by developing signature coffees featuring Kushui roses. I’m also exploring the possibility of offering Chinese teas and creating drinks that bring tea and coffee together. These ideas are still developing, but the aim is to introduce flavours that have a story behind them. The name also has a playful second meaning: coffee itself has a natural bitterness, so Bitter Water felt fitting for a café. For me, this is a way to bring ceramics into the experience they were made for. Customers will be able to hold a cup, enjoy a drink from it and discover how it feels to use. I hope the café will become a welcoming place where Chinese craft and flavours meet Newcastle’s café culture, and where cultural exchange can happen through something as simple as sharing a drink.
Are you bringing anything new to Living North’s Christmas Fair?
We’re preparing new shapes and a wider range of colour combinations for our Panda collection, giving visitors more choice when finding something for themselves or choosing a gift. We’re also exploring a collaboration with an artist in Jingdezhen who approached us about presenting a collection of kiln-transmutation glazes, known as yaobian, on forms inspired by historic Chinese ceramics. The appeal lies in the variations in colour and surface that develop during firing. It would offer a different expression of Chinese ceramics alongside the playful Panda pieces, and we’re excited about the possibility of sharing that with visitors to the Fair.
You can meet Xiaoyu and find out more about Fatfinger Atelier at Living North’s Christmas Fair at Newcastle Racecourse from 22nd to 25th October.
Early-bird discounted tickets are on sale now.
fatfingeratelier.co.uk
The best place to eat/drink locally?
The View – enjoying fish and chips by a big window overlooking the sea is my idea of a lovely afternoon.
A book/TV show/podcast you recommend?
Breaking Bad – brilliant storytelling and unforgettable characters.
An item you couldn’t live without?
A favourite ceramic cup. It’s a small thing, but it makes an everyday tea or coffee feel a little more special.
Yorkshire puddings on Christmas dinner – yes or no?
Yes – there’s always room for a Yorkshire pudding, especially with plenty of gravy!
The best snack for a long journey?
Roasted nuts and a little dark chocolate – something crunchy and something sweet.
