Liz Hird, a designer, maker, and art educator known for her contributions to pottery and creative arts in the Scottish Borders, has died of cancer at the age of 82. Alongside her husband, Ian Hird, she founded Kelso Pottery in the late 1960s, an initiative aimed at fostering new industries in the region. The couple built a kiln and established a combined pottery studio and shop, producing both functional and decorative stoneware. Their first joint exhibition took place in 1970.

Born in Oldham, Lancashire, to Maud and Harry Mellor, Liz Hird attended Manchester High School for Girls before enrolling at Edinburgh Art College in 1962, where she met Ian Hird. She specialized in stained glass and pottery and later completed teacher training at Moray House in Edinburgh. The couple relocated to Kelso in 1968, where Kelso Pottery remains operational.

During her career, Hird produced a variety of ceramic works, including hens, Christmas nativities, Noah’s arks, and numerous piggy banks. One of her most ambitious projects involved recreating the buildings of Kelso town square in miniature form, a process that spanned over two years. These models often included figures representing the owners or individuals associated with the properties. Several of these pieces were purchased by shop and building owners, with some, like the model of the Cross Keys hotel, still displayed publicly.

In addition to her work at the pottery, Hird taught art at Kelso High School from 1972 until 2004. She played an active role in supporting students’ artistic endeavors, particularly in designing and painting scenery for school musicals. Beyond education, she was involved with the Kelso Amateur Operatic Society, the Amateur Dramatic Society, and a local choir. While she participated as an actor and singer in various productions, her primary focus was on design. She created detailed miniature models of stage sets, collaborating with teams to bring these designs to life under challenging conditions, such as working in unheated barns where paint tins had to be protected from freezing.

Hird’s creative pursuits also extended into textile arts, particularly quilting. She was drawn to geometric patterns and crafted intricate designs using fabric sample books and materials sourced from charity shops. Over the years, she made wall hangings, blankets, and quilts commemorating the birthdays of her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband Ian, her children, Gil and another son, and four grandchildren.