The pottery was started by Tony and his late wife Anita way back in 1978 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 and a highly skilled work force of 20 potters handmade and painted these beautiful teapots at the Debenham pottery.

The making and production of Tony Carter teapots was sold in 2013 by Tony to a new owner who took the production from the original site in Debenham to new premises at Stonham Barns (3 miles from Debenham) where it changed names slightly to Carters of Suffolk. It continued production there until very recently changing ownership several times but sadly the doors have now been closed and the pottery making the famous teapots has totally shut down.
Tony Carter has not been involved with production or marketing for some years but of course is sad to see this fine pottery close its doors.

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. Tony and Anita ran their pottery very successfully for 35 years. 

At the end of 2013 the pottery was sold, the site demolished and The Kiln House was built with the renewed studio which is 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.