It is key! Listening to myself allowed me to find my individual style, which is not easy to label as I am a ceramicist who also loves to draw. I think it has made my work recognisable. A lady once told me her child saw one of my pieces in a book and said “that’s Bela”.

As a student I was told at times that my pieces were too rough and needed to be straighter. I never agreed and kept on using the techniques I learnt freely without just following the supposedly 'right' way. It is funny to see there is now a trend for the shapes I make.

I continue drawing for textiles as well as creating decorative ceramic objects. In recent years I have also developed larger three-dimensional ceramic projects with architects as well as works for public spaces such as panels for the Sakai Cultural Centre in Japan.

Definitely the ocean and sun inspire me; they are reflected in my work even if subconsciously. When I observe the architecture of Portugal I can’t help but see that there is a lot of me there. My travels and seeing places such as the Walls of Babylon have been equally inspirational.