The Swedish ceramicist Hertha Hillfon is my aunt and I used to spend time at her studio as a teenager. I used to practise at her studio during the holidays and ended up spending quite some time there. When it was time to choose a profession, however, I became a teacher.

When I reached the age of 30 I felt lost in life, and thought about what I wanted to do. I remembered that I had really enjoyed throwing, so I bought a potter's wheel, and it was like falling in love. At that time I had small children and needed to bring the money in, so I did continue to work as a teacher and spent as much time throwing as I could.

I get a lot of inspiration from the East Asian ceramic tradition. The glaze I use is the same as what was used in China a thousand years ago. I am not an innovator, I am a potter from a long line of potters. I want to follow that tradition.

I have made a living out of ceramics for about three decades. The big change came about ten years ago when high-end restaurants started taking an interest in handmade ceramic tableware. It’s given me a lot to do and it’s also given the material a higher status.