John Leach is the eldest son of David Leach and the eldest grandson of Bernard Leach. He was born at Pottery Cottage at the Leach Pottery in St Ives in 1939. He studied under his grandfather and father at St Ives, under Colin Pearson and Byron Temple at Aylesford and under Ray Finch at Winchcombe.

John Leach, May 2000

In 1963 he went to the USA to teach and opened a pottery in Northern California. He returned to England in 1964 and set up Muchelney Pottery in the tranquil countryside one mile south of the village of Muchelney in Somerset. The pots he made were functional part-glazed stoneware. The kiln was oil fired at first, but later wood fired.

In 1983 John started to make one-off studio pieces in a range of styles. Notable amongst these is the 'Black Mood' range; very different from John's bread-and-butter pottery, and very striking. In recent years John has lectured and staged demonstrations in Europe, Scandinavia, North America and the West Indies. He is a big, striking man; friendly, communicative and with a keen sense of humour.

Conscious of his debt to the environment, John has planted 4,000 broadleaf trees on his land and has established a one acre pond sanctuary for wildlife and vegitation.