Ian Auld was born in Brighton in 1926. He first trained at Brighton College of Art and then the Slade School of Fine art, where he studied painting and print-making. His interest in ceramics developed after 1951 when he was taught by William Newland. In 1954 he went to Bagdad, Iraq, where he set up a pottery department in an art school and travelled extensively around the Middle-East.

On his return to England, he built a kiln in Essex and began teaching at the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts. He was appointed Head of the Ceramic Department in 1974, and taught students such as Jim Malone, Julian Stair and Sara Radstone.

Auld was a pioneer handbuilder, using the slab technique to make a variety of fine simple bottles, dishes and other vessels.

Above: Ian Auld in his studio