Meet Alan Dunnighan: your average IT consultant by day, pottery maestro by night (well, technically, weekends). He’s taken the leap from creating the occasional lopsided mug in his garden shed to running a pottery side hustle, fulfilling the age-old dream of ‘why not make a little money while making a mess?’
Inspired by the high-stakes drama of The Great Pottery Throw Down (yes, nothing screams excitement like watching ceramicists battle it out with clay), Alan turned to online videos. Turns out, binge-watching tutorials is an acceptable form of education—even when your neighbors think you’ve lost it talking to a lump of clay.
His garden shed was once the domain of gardening tools, but now it’s a ceramics factory. He invested in a pottery wheel—because who needs a lawn?—and has since upgraded to a studio in Sunderland. If he must choose between a well-manicured yard and artistic expression, art wins every time.
With a full-time job as an IT consultant for the NHS, Dunnighan’s life can only be described as ‘busy’—the kind of busy that makes you question your life choices at 2 AM when you’re knee-deep in earthenware. “It’s worth it,” he says. Clearly, he’s never tried to balance a patient’s IT issue and a glazing deadline—but we applaud his optimism.
Interestingly, January is the time when people start scrimping like they’re contestants on a reality show that involves no food. The BBC’s Hacks and Hustles series has decided that this is the best time to share tips on saving money while throwing in “you could always sell pottery” as a solution. Who knew that studio-quality ceramics could save you from those post-holiday blues?
Side hustles are exploding faster than the economy can keep up. A recent study noted that there are now 460,000 side hustles proliferating in the UK—up from a measly 383,000 the previous year. Apparently, making a little extra cash simultaneously while trying not to quit your day job is the new normal. Can we get a round of applause for multitasking?
Dunnighan juggles the demands of selling his pottery at craft fairs and running classes (yes, people pay to learn how to make coffee mugs that *actually* hold together). He insists it’s fulfilling, especially being around fellow pottery enthusiasts—like a support group for alert individuals crafting their way to relaxation. “It’s uplifting,” he adds, likely referring to the mental support that accompanies the physical activity of shaping wet clay, rather than the aroma of earthenware fired to perfection.
“Sometimes I pinch myself,” he reflects, sounding more surprised than proud. Forget the couch potato; his passion exploded like a kiln left unattended. He started as a modest shed artist but somehow transformed into a busy entrepreneur—without even leaving his backyard. That’s right: what was once therapeutic has spiraled into a full-fledged business. His advice? “Persevere, enjoy the craft, and don’t give up.” Wise words as he strokes another globby creation, contemplating whether it will eventually end up in a gallery or the nearest dumpster.
For more on how to navigate the tricky waters of side hustles and money-saving antics, tune in to BBC Sounds. You may emerge inspired—after all, why settle for just getting by when you could be sculpting your way to financial freedom?
Follow BBC North East on social media, where every like signals your appreciation for a local artist investing in their dream. Who knows? Maybe next weekend you’ll find yourself knee-deep in clay, contemplating your next great masterpiece—or just a very amusing disaster.
