Satirical plates inspired by Boris Johnson as Prime Minister

Molly Attrill, known for her earthy stoneware tableware and decorated maiolica ceramics, branched out into political cartoons, with accompanying pamphlets, at the start of Boris Johnson's premiership. 

The exhibition at the Studio Pottery launched her third collection in the series Shysters and Charlatans.

"I was incensed by the Brexit debate in Theresa May's government," said Molly. 

"I'd listen to the news and commentary on the radio, then began sketching cartoons and putting them onto plates. When Boris Johnson became Prime Minister the material kept flowing."

Molly Attrill's plates. Picture by Roz Whistance. (Image: Roz Whistance)

So a plate in March 2020 is titled Tories Unleashed, and records "Johnson/Cummings' Government advocates trashing the Independent Judiciary, the BBC and British Farmers." 

Another shows the PM as a puppet, being operated by his advisor Cummings as Covid started to bite. Molly does not hold back.

"I'd listen to the Today programme on Radio Four and make sketches on any bit of paper that came to hand." 

The Maiolica technique, of painting onto unfired tin glaze, is tricky — the detail captured is the result of her long experience.

She calls the series Maiolica For Our Times, and as she points out, the practice of spreading political messages via pottery goes back to ancient history. 

Then as soon as the printing press made the printed word universal, pamphlets expressing opposition to the status quo became widespread.

Molly's satirical ceramics have all been photographed and used to illustrate her own pamphlets — booklets with pithy text, which chronicle the fast-moving incidents in and around Downing Street.

Molly said: "The Covid pandemic blurred many of the consequences of leaving the EU, but with Boris in Number 10 with a huge majority, new material presented itself almost daily." 

The second collection references the PM's ''shape shifting" to Green policies, the intervention by footballer Marcus Rashford over school meals; the sudden appearance, US-style, of Union Flags as a backdrop to all the Covid announcements; and the graphic sketch of the PM, broom in hand brushing some of the Brexit promises under the "useful Covid carpet".

Volume Three is called The Final Chapter? where Boris is depicted as rifling through the dressing up box — a reference to his photo opportunities. 

Now there's further change in Number 10 is she tempted to start a new collection of satirical plates? 

"No. It was the physicality of Johnson. Everything he did was over the top. Unlike a lot of people I don't see Johnson as a jovial person, but he was a unique character."

The plates, each one unique, retail for £200 each. Each volume of Shysters and Charlatans costs £10. 

Contact mollyattrill@googlemail.com