Katie Rose Johnston was born in Shetland and credits the combination of the islands’ raw landscape, wild elements and ancient culture as deep lodestars for her practice. Under the name Manifesto, today based in her garden studio in Glasgow, Katie creates sculptural ceramics with a talismanic beauty that sits outside time. She is a mudlarker and gatherer of curious objects from history and nature. Surrounded in her studio by her finds, she pays careful attention to form, texture, composition, feeling and dialogue between them, all of which inspire her own work in curious and compelling ways. Katie graduated in sculpture from The Glasgow School of Art with first class honours in 2017, and has exhibited at The Royal Scottish Academy and the Ingram Collection in London.

What value does craft have in daily life?

At their heart, handcrafted objects are alive and inviting; layered with the history, experience and skill of the craftsperson as well as our own memories. They are designed to be touched, used, shared and loved for years to come and connect us to the earth through our senses, like the citrus tang of a carved chair or the warmth and texture of woollen socks. These associations allow us to experience a deeper relationship to the objects that surround us and, in turn, bring pleasure to our daily routine.

What does Scottishness mean to you?

From unexpectedly damp picnics and camping trips to soaked hill walks, Scottishness is the ability to accept imperfection and appreciate the value it can bring. Though persistent and hardy, Scottishness is also developing as a welcoming space, where new ideas, collaboration and individuality can thrive.