Barry Brickell

About Barry

• Knew from a young age that he wasn't great at academic work, but he always loved to sculpt, make pots.
• Everyone assumed he would go to university, get a degree and a stable job, but he wanted none of it.
• Reluctantly got a degree and became a schoolteacher; was so unhappy he quit after one year, went back to pottery.
• His dad told him making pots would be no way to support a family; Barry said, that's fine, I'm still going to do it.
• Lived in poverty, but always preferred wearing raggedy clothes and "being free" to wearing a suit and tie.
• His other interest was railroads: he invested all of his money on a plot of land and spent years building his own railroad.
• Estate came to be named Driving Creek Potteries and Railway-combined his two passions in one space.
• Says Driving Creek is successful because there's nothing else like it; "don't copy; be original."