Adorable Ceramic Creatures
Adorable Expressions Feature Strongly on These Ceramic Creatures
You might know her better as Nosey Mungo, but artist Helen Burgess knows what it takes to create a playful set of characters.
Animals need a personality to feel relevant. When you work with ceramics, that requirement is even more crucial to your success. That’s why you’ll see Burgess creating a bulging rain frog with a frown, startled chickens, and grinning whales that serve as flower vases.
Would you trust those smiles?
You’ll Discover Lesser-Known Animals in Her Collection
Most artists will stick to the standard fare they know that potential customers love. If you know someone who lives on a farm, chickens and livestock are your best bet for a sale.
Burgess takes a different approach to her creations. She spends her time scouring the encyclopedia to see what lesser-known creatures could become the next addition to her collection.
You’ll also find her focusing on endangered animals sometimes to drive more awareness to their blight.
The artist lives and works near Brighton, often creating the ceramic animals in small batches. You’ll find them to be playful, full of personality, and 100% adorable.
How the Nosey Mungo Story Began
Burgess says her quest to make these cute ceramic critters began in the 1980s. She says her childhood was spent outside looking for wildlife or getting involved in an art project.
One of her favorite times each week was watching a David Attenborough documentary.
Burgess studied geography and biology at school, eventually earning a master’s degree in biodiversity surveying. That led her to the Sussex Wildlife Trust, allowing her to explore nature conservation.
An unexpected bout with fibromyalgia in 2010 forced her to stop working full-time in the field she loved. After taking some pottery classes as therapy, she found that her hobby could soon become a business opportunity.
If you love nature, you’ll love the cute bears, foxes, and more that she makes throughout the year. Many pieces offer multiple functions, making them the perfect gift for virtually everyone. More information about Burgess and her brand is available on her website.
