Iberian Lighting x Ashdown Pottery: The Collaborative Story

At Iberian Lighting, we pride ourselves on being artists in lampshades - put simply, we believe that creativity and artistry plays a large part in every aspect of what we do. We draw an immense amount of muse from the world around us, and find ourselves thankful to be located in Sussex, arguably one of the most artistic and inspiring places in the country. On all sides we are surrounded by gorgeous landscapes, rich history, and bounteous beauty that does nothing short of igniting the creative passion inside all of us – and we aren’t the only ones.

 

(Pictured above: the Camber and the Etchingham shades from our bespoke order catalogue, named after and inspired by local areas of beauty in Sussex)

Located in a small studio in the Ashdown Forest, Bill and Anthea of Ashdown Pottery are equally as devoted to capturing the wonder of the world around them through their growing range of beautiful pots, bowls, and – now – lamp bases. Our collaboration with them sought to highlight the ethos of both businesses: handmade, quality products that draw inspiration from history and antiquity, as well as shapes that mirror the wonderful Sussex landscapes and the nature around us.

The Ashdown Forest is a place that is steeped in creative and literary influence. It served as the inspiration for A.A. Milne’s creation of the iconic and beloved Hundred Acre Wood, and the area's natural beauty – its rolling heathland, ancient woodland, and tranquil atmosphere – has long sparked the imagination of writers, artists, and visitors. Its sense of timelessness, quiet mystery, and connection to childhood nostalgia make it an enduring wellspring for creativity and storytelling. The forest also contains a sense of emotional connection and nostalgia for Iberian; Les Allitt, the company’s managing director, and Tom Acciarini, the business and marketing manager, both have emotional connections to the Ashdown Forest, having grown up and worked there respectively over their years. It was with this in mind that Les found and reached out to Ashdown Pottery, as their classic and beautiful trade work had that tug of emotional nostalgia that Iberian was searching for in a collaboration partner. 

Ashdown Pottery Pieces

The first hurdle of setting up a collaboration between creatives is striking the perfect balance between inspiration and concession: Bill and Anthea came to Iberian to get a better look at what it is that we create, and with them they brought a selection of bases that they had chosen with us in mind. While their pieces were undoubtedly beautiful, we all agreed that approaching the collaboration too rigidly – simply fitting one’s work into the other’s – would limit the authenticity and creative potential of the project. Instead, we committed to something more organic: a shared exploration of ideas, a blending of styles that honoured what makes each of our practices distinct. With a deeper understanding of our approach and design language, and a better visual understanding of what it is that we do here at Iberian, Bill and Anthea went away with minds abuzz and awash with new ideas, and the fingers of Iberian’s expert craftsmen itched in anticipation of what was yet to come. 

Meeting with Bill and Anthea of Ashdown Pottery at Iberian Lighting HQ

The bases they created were the result of reimagining their craft through the lens of light: what would look nice when lit from above, while still in keeping with the unique creativity that makes Ashdown Pottery the entity that it is? It was a foray into different shapes and textures in regards to light and fabric, and the end results became something truly worthy of recognition – an exploration into how pottery and lampshade design could converse, rather than coexist. After combining a few of Iberian’s own unique and nature-inspired lampshade shapes to create the perfect combinations and blends, the next hurdle was looming ever closer: PotFest 2025, and the construction of the lampshade bases into functioning light pieces that could be displayed to the public as a symbol of the conjoined efforts of both businesses. 

Out of the twelve bases that Bill and Anthea created, the goal was to create three pieces that could be displayed at the stand at PotFest, a curated showcase with around 100 stalls, set up in Glynde and that brings pottery and the public together. A wellspring of creativity and artistry that would be the perfect soft-launch of the collaboration. Expectations were exceeded on all sides when all twelve bases supplied were transformed into functioning light pieces and works of art, and Bill and Anthea had what they needed to truly showcase the beauty of their lamps in all forms and glory. Below is a short video that showcases the Ashdown Pottery stall at PotFest Glynde 2025:

The PotFest soft-launch garnered a lot of positive attention and feedback and our collection stood out as overtly unique, a testament to the hard work and dedication of both Ashdown Pottery and Iberian; but more than that, it highlighted just how cohesive the collaboration had become, more than just placing a generic lampshade atop a piece of pottery and calling it art. The final products were a blend of organic and classic shapes, soft curves, diffused lighting, and a unique flourish that truly made the collection stand out amongst the rest.

Iberian x Ashdown Collection

We are proud to have worked alongside Ashdown Pottery to create these iconic and beautiful works of art, and we are even more proud to announce that this exclusive, limited edition collection is now available on our website. It stands as a tribute to refined craftsmanship, artistic excellence, and the rich heritage of the region that inspired its creation.

Iberian Lighting x Ashdown Pottery Collection