Leda May was born in London, grew up in Suffolk, and studied at Hornsea College of Art. She began working in ceramics in the 1960s just as ‘studio pottery’ – where an artist would specialise in small batch production of one-off pieces – was taking off. Leda and her husband Bob set out in a converted ambulance ‘to visit all the potters in Ireland’, and arrived in West Cork in the late 60s, meeting Christa Reichel at Gurteenakilla. Christa encouraged them to set up their own pottery behind the Flower House: this was known as Luba Studios.
Leda May felt drawn to the West Cork landscape and the relaxed, uncomplicated way of life. She made a living from selling her work and running a programme of pottery courses for children and adults from Ballydehob. Her own creativity developed and matured. Working in Ballydehob today she is producing very fine and much sought after hand-painted porcelain. Each piece is a unique work of art.
A founder member of the Cork Craftsman’s Guild, Leda May also participated in the Irland ’85 exhibition in Zurich.
Fine painted porcelain work by Leda May
Ballydehob Arts Museum 