Sarah Schiewe is the ceramic artist and storyteller behind Schiewe Ceramics (pronounced she-ver), a York-based creative practice that transforms personal stories into hand-built stoneware sculptures.
Her journey to becoming an artist is one of courage, rediscovery, and a deep belief in the power of human connection; a path shaped not only by artistic exploration, but by profound personal change.
Sarah’s early interest in ceramics was sparked during her degree, where she began exploring illustration on hand-built clay forms, inspired by the work of renowned ceramic artist Grayson Perry. However her journey to becoming an artist didn’t truly begin for another nine years.
For nearly a decade after graduation, Sarah felt held back by anxiety and perfectionism. She knew what she wanted to do but lacked the self-esteem and confidence to take that risk.
“With perfectionism, I was always trying to control everything,” Sarah reflects. “Putting my authentic self out there felt too scary.”
Everything began to shift when she started working with a life coach. Through this support, she began to understand her own patterns of behaviour. That insight allowed her to revisit the work she created at university with new eyes, not with criticism, but with appreciation.
She realised something powerful: her art had always been her voice, especially during times when she felt she didn’t have one.
In January 2024 Sarah finally made the decision to commit fully to her creative path and become a ceramic artist. A lover of stories through books, music, and imagination shared with her children Sarah found that sculpture offered the perfect medium to tell stories through clay.
