Introduction
Philip Hardaker is a ceramic artist, whose vocation is sculptor / ceramicist / mosaic artist. His work is the substance of accumulation, as a shifter of the detritus collected from the flotsam and jetsam of a wasteful consumer society. He transforms these materials into art, alongside his own modelled and cast elements.
This page is a tribute to Philip’s creative working approach and a record of some of the artwork he’s produced; I’ve published the following items:
- Photographic insight into Philip’s working with detritus in his workshop
- Community sculptures which Philip has designed and constructed
- Some of Philip’s work which is situated in his design studio
Philip attended Burslem School of Art in 1975, when it was part of North Staffordshire Polytechnic, from where he attained a first class honours degree in Fine Art Sculpture. He moved to London in 1978 to attend the Royal College of Art, gaining an MA in Fine Art Ceramics. Phil, who has lived in Stoke-on-Trent (The Potteries) since 1985, is a native of Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Philip represents his work as archaeological sculptures made from clay and found objects. For thirty years, he’s been digging up ancient and modern ceramic shards from Staffordshire and around the world. He employs these fragments of past ages along with his own modelled and cast ceramic elements in ceramic collages of considerable intricacy and beauty. The work is intrinsically linked with being English and celebrating the past production of Staffordshire ceramics.
There are further digital resources for viewing Philip’s artwork:
- Instagram page
- Website
- bare WALL art gallery in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent
- Tribute to Philip by singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl
Philip Hardaker Workshop – Detritus Reimagined
Philip could be likened to the eccentric character Caractacus Pott of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang notoriety.
Register of Community (Public) Sculptures
Middleport Pottery
The construction of a replica Potteries factory was funded by the Prince of Wales’ trust in 2016 and opened by the then Price of Wales during a visit..
Philip constructed an architectural model of the factory as it was designed in 1880, before the clean air act of 1956 resulted in the de-commissioning of the majority of working bottle ovens in the Potteries.
Burslem Town Hall
This work to celebrate links between Stoke-on-Trent and London was commissioned in 2015, it was funded by a parliamentary arts financing initiative to expend monies outside of London. MP Joan Whalley championed the project, the artistic output is a testimonial of the speaker’s podium in the House of Commons.
The sculpture was built using ceramic detritus unearthed by Philip from beneath the Houses of Parliament. It was opened by the then ‘speaker of the house’ John Bercow.
Castle Primary School in Mow Cop
In 2005, Philip worked with 200 children at Castle primary school in Mow Cop to create the ‘Mow Cop Dragon’, which overlooks their school playground.
The dragon’s flames go around the corner wall and follows children going up the stairs into school.
Burslem Park
Commissioned in 2014 as part of the regeneration of Burslem park, the project was initiated to replace a Doulton statue which had been part of an artistic deployment in 1895, but was subsequently stolen. The stolen statue was of a boy pouring water from a vase – but the basics of the plinth remained.
There are no photographic records of the statue, so a new statue was commissioned which incorporated a statue by Andy Edwards of a mayfly, the oldest insect on earth. Philip enhanced the plinth with Doulton detritus.
Kidsgrove Toilet Block
In 2011, Kidsgrove town council commissioned Philip to make a piece. It was originally destined for the town hall building, but Philip insisted that it would be far better to deploy it in a location where people in the community would be able to see it. A prominent situation in front of the newly refurbished toilet block was selected. 🙂
Biddulph Town
The bench was commissioned in 2023 by the local town council to celebrate all facets of Biddulph – both old and new. It honours the contributions of key industries that shaped Biddulph’s history beyond the mining industry. These would include forges, textiles, mills, nursing, transport, farming and quarrying. Pastimes such as ‘pigeon fancying’, bowling, football and tennis are also represented.
The majority of tiles were created by members of the community (including many children) in 2024; they included things loved at this time such as images of nature, flowers and animals.
Mill Hill Primary School in Tunstall
This work was commissioned in 2005 as a celebration of wildlife in the vicinity of the school.
In combination with the central collage, the artwork contains tiles created by schoolchildren running around the perimeter of corridors .
Keele University Medical School
Commissioned in three distinct phases – the initial piece (centre photo) being part of the building’s opening in 2012, to counter its initially austere appearance. Philip worked with various clinical specialist such as heart surgeons, brain surgeons – they made individual contributions reflecting this.
A second piece was commissioned in 2019 to celebrate 100 years of learning disability nursing, then a third piece in 2023 to celebrate the school of nursing and midwifery.
YMCA in Hanley
The piece in the shape of a teapot was commissioned in 2013 to celebrate young people in the community.
It has a mirror built into the centre, so that anyone viewing it becomes part of the art.
Haywood Hospital near Burslem
A ceramic bench ‘sculpture’, providing a setting for thoughtful reflection on the Haywood hospital, its community origins / links and its significance to the lives of folk who’ve been touched by it.
The sculpture is an artistic consolidation of ceramic tiles made by patients, doctors / nurses, families and non-clinical staff.
I’ve published a web page solely about the Haywood hospital ceramic art piece shown in this section.
Kidsgrove Library
In 2018, Staffordshire county council commissioned Phil to make a piece celebrating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Philip worked with young children and elderly folk to help forge better relations between members of the Kidsgrove community.
Stoke Minster
Commissioned by Stoke council circa 2000 to celebrate the greening of the river Trent, in combination with the city of Stoke’s industrial past – it was designed by Philip alongside the fine artist Helen Sayer.
It was made by children of St Peter’s school, and Stoke Minster parishioners. It celebrates the ecology of the river Trent, which was once one of most polluted rivers in the UK.
Westport Lake
Commissioned in 2009 by British Waterways, to celebrate the natural environment surrounding the lake.
Burslem School of Art
Commissioned in 2015 by the ceramics trade union. It is a memorial to the circa 100,000 potteries industry workers who died prematurely due to pottery related illnesses such as silicosis, lead poisoning, dust inhalation and cancer of the throat.
Philip attended Burslem School of Art himself in 1975, when it was part of North Staffordshire Polytechnic, from where he attained a first class honours degree in Fine Art Sculpture.
Port Vale Football Ground Supporter’s Tribute
The piece was commissioned in 2025 to celebrate Port Vale football club, adjacent to the John Rudge memorial statue. The piece financed by the supporter’s club and had the names of supporters from the past (many now deceased) and the present.
Philip is a Port Vale supporter himself (a Valiant).
Stoke Spode Factory Site Regeneration
Commissioned in 2023 to enhance the artistic experience of the Spode factory site and commemorate the centuries of Spode workers.
Dalehall Church near Burslem
Commissioned in 2010 by the vicar, celebrating the Christian community and Samoan constituents working together – they share the church.
Forest Park Primary School in Hanley
Commissioned in 2006 to celebrate the multi-cultural school attendees.
Port Vale Football Club Foyer
Commissioned by the Port Vale community trust in 2024 as a celebration of children’s affinity with Vale Park, the majority of tiles were made by children who were Port Vale supporters themselves.
Stone Town and Waterways
Commissioned by the Canal Trust and Staffordshire county council in 2010 to to celebrate the different businesses in Stone and their relationship with passing canal traffic.
Central Forest Park near Hanley
Philip was commissioned in 2016 to create a ceramic plinth for a sculpture being made by Rob Pointon of a potter throwing a pot. As of 2026, the sculpture element is unfinished.
German Military Cemetery near Cannock
The German Military Cemetery near Cannock is a place for remembrance of German WW1 and WW2 soldiers whose bodies were in the UK.
Philip’s ceramic collage was created in 2008 in collaboration with fifty German and fifty English schoolchildren, making peace and war related tiles. The cemetery and visitor centre was refurbished and re-opened on 17th September 2026 by Princess Anne.
Sneyd Primary Academy School
Commissioned in 2025 by the Crossways residents association as part of the celebration of the centenary of the city of Stoke-on-Trent.
BJF Charity 50th Anniversary Celebration
The Beth Johnson Foundation commissioned Phil to create a tribute to the fiftieth anniversary of the Beth Johnson Foundation (charity).
BJF published a PDF document entitled ‘Clay Stories‘ to commemorate the artwork.
The Vine (Pub) near Tunstall – Ceramic Collage
Simply stated, The Vine (in Pittshill) is Philip’s favourite pub. 🙂
New Vic Theatre in Newcastle
Philip was commissioned by the theatre in 2020 to help raise money for sustaining it during covid-19 lockdown periods. The tiles were referred to as gold, silver or bronze (£1000, £600, £250) and bought by / inscribed with names of folk (past and present) who enjoyed attending the new Vic.
BJF Charity Stoke-on-Trent Centenary Celebration
The Beth Johnson Foundation commissioned Phil to create a piece in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Stoke-on-Trent as a city.
Springhead Primary School, Talke Pits
Commissioned in 2005 and created with the help of 300 children in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of the second world war – freedom from the threat of fascism.
St. Mary’s (Knutton) Primary School
Commissioned in 2005 and constructed with the help of 500 children in celebration of wildlife and peace.
St. Chad’s (Red Street) Primary School
Commissioned in 2005, with the assistance of 450 children to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War 2.
Philip Hardaker Design Studio
Philip keeps a collection of many of the unsold art pieces he’s created over the years in his own studio setting.
