Samuel Chatto, the son of Lady Sarah Chatto, thrilled royal fans over the weekend by sharing an exciting update about his career.
Taking to Instagram, Princess Margaret’s grandson announced that he will be showcasing his pottery in a new exhibition at the prestigious Sokyo Gallery in Kyoto, Japan.
Alongside the announcement, Samuel shared a promotional pamphlet featuring an image of him working in his studio, surrounded by an array of intricately crafted glazed bowls.
“I’m delighted to announce my upcoming exhibition with @sokyo_gallery in Kyoto,” he wrote. “The works shown came out of a residency I did with the gallery last year, along with more recent works wood-fired at my studio in West Sussex. These pieces explore the themes of ‘Interior and Exterior,’ balance, and flow, drawing inspiration from landscapes and tea culture in both Britain and Japan. Made with porcelain and local clays from Japan and Sussex.”
The exhibition will open to the public from April 4 to April 19, with a special preview event on April 3.
Fans were quick to flood the comments with words of praise and encouragement. “I love tea and tea culture—I wish I could attend the exhibition,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Congratulations, Sam!” while a third commented, “Arigato for bringing your exhibition to Japan! From a Japanese fan of yours.”
Samuel, who studied History of Art at the University of Edinburgh, later pursued a six-week apprenticeship at North Shore Pottery and completed a course at the Royal Drawing School. He now works from his studio in West Sussex, crafting ceramics inspired by the natural world.
Last summer, he showcased his work in an exhibition titled ‘Hot Water for Tea’. Reflecting on his creative process, he shared: “I hope that my vessels, with their weight and proportion, carry the imprint of the maker’s hand, inviting the viewer to hold and drink from them.”
In a 2019 interview with the Daily Mail, Samuel spoke about his lifelong passion for creating: “I’ve always had a strong affinity with making objects, spending much of my childhood crafting imagined landscapes and sculptural models. That naturally led me to clay during my later years at school.”
He added, “I spent my weekends setting up a small home studio to rediscover my creativity and built a wood-fired kiln at the bottom of my garden. The decision to start selling my work stems from a deep belief in the power of beautiful, well-made objects to enrich and enhance our lives.”
