Fauna Living

Hello! I’m Jess, the maker behind Fauna Living. My first name is Gabrielle, but I’ve always been known as Jess!?! I make pots out of recycled cardboard. Having worked with ceramics for many years, I wanted to create a material, where I could produce pots and bowls that did not need to be fired, and therefore reduce my energy use. The material needed to durable and hardy, and one which I could experiment with creatively. My thoughts lead me to paper mâché, but I didn’t want to use any artificial glues or resins. …..

A year or so later, I perfected my pulped cardboard and linseed oil recipe- creating myself a clay type material that sets hard. Each pot is handmade at my studio in Cardiff. I use natural earth pigments such as red iron oxide and natural ground yellow clay to create a range of coloured pots. All are given several layers of raw linseed oil, which helps seal the pots and gives them added durability. I adore experimenting with colours and form.

My latest bowls and vessels are built up slowly over many days, each layer of pulped cardboard is a different colour, I hope giving them a feel of sedimentary rock formations.