A CWMBRAN mother who started playing with clay when her children were young has turned pottery into a career.

Jane Rees-Parfitt, who is in her 40s, begun sculpting salt dough with her baby daughter 15 years ago and has since gone back to college as a mature student, taken a degree in ceramics and become a pottery teacher.

When she became a mother, her husband worked away a lot and she spent much of her time alone at home with her daughter - with whom she started making animal sculptures, cartoon figures and pots.

Ms Rees-Parfitt’s interest in pottery quickly grew and she signed up to an adult learning course at Oxford House in Risca where she learnt the basic skills and decided she wanted to gain some qualifications.

As a mature student at Coleg Gwent, she gained an A* at GCSE and A at A level in arts subjects and later a degree in ceramics at UWIC in Cardiff - all while bringing up her two daughters Josie, now 16, and Ruby, 12.

She got a job at Caerleon Roman Legionary Museum working in re-enactment events as a Roman potter and teaching school children.

Ms Rees-Parfitt said: "When the children were growing up they used to love getting messy with the clay and exploring their creative sides, now they're a little older it's more ‘Oh mum not clay again’."

Her ceramics have featured in numerous exhibitions, and she is currently running courses at Croesyceiliog Adult Education Centre and runs courses for schools and community groups across Gwent.

"I've gone from being a learner to a recognised artist and now teach the subject, so it's never too late to learn," Ms Rees-Parfitt said.

For more information on courses visit www.janerees-parfitt.com