The pottery was started by Tony and his late wife Anita way back in 1977 and quickly gained a reputation for unusual designs which caught the attention of many of buyers ranging from Heals in London to collectors of contemporary pottery. By the 1980s the potteries production was totally given over to making collectable teapots that were stocked in Harrods, Selfridges, and Liberty in London. The teapots were widely exported throughout the world and could be found in Saks 5th avenue, Bloomingdales, and Macys New York, Takasmaya in Japan, and David Jones in Australia to name just a few.
The reputation of Tony Carter teapots steadily grew where a highly skilled work force of 20 potters handmade and painted these beautiful teapots at the Debenham pottery.
The production side of the pottery was sold in 2013 after the passing of Anita and can now be found just a few miles away at Stonham Barns where Jill and Carol (the key production ladies) continue the fine tradition, whilst the business has gone through three different ownerships.
The original buildings of the pottery were demolished, and Tony had a new house built on the site whist keeping a small part which is now his studio and pottery school.

Tony trained at Ipswich school of art, Bath academy of art BA hons, Goldsmith college, university of London ATD.

He started the pottery with his wife Anita in 1978 originally called Kiln cottage pottery changing to Carters Ceramic Designs 1982. At the end of 2013 the pottery was sold, the site demolished and The Kiln House was built with the renewed studio now the pottery school.

Tony has taught ceramics for over 40 years from school age to post graduate, including teaching at a major public school, and as a visiting lecturer at art schools. He taught way back in the early 1980s part time at Colchester school of art, but the growth of his pottery took all his time and so came away from teaching for some years returning to Colchester and ran the foundation degree professional practice until 2013.

Today it gives him great pleasure to use his extensive experience to teach the wonderful world of pottery making to students in his pottery school.