Julia Carter Preston’s work is distinguished from much contemporary pottery by its intricate patterns. Her designs are executed in sgraffito, an exceptionally demanding and painstaking technique which involves scraping away at the surface to reveal a contrasting colour below. Her intricate designs are freely composed, instinctively flowing from her hand without preliminary drawings. Her pots often have a tactile quality often heightened by the rainbow glint of lustre. Her inspiration for decoration is mainly drawn form the past (a hint of Persian wares, William de Morgan, the Arts and Crafts Movement) but her work still remains original and is highly sought after, both in and beyond Merseyside.