Rob Whelpton was born in 1952. He trained at North Staffordshire Polytechnic, qualifying in ceramics in 1974. After college he worked in Botswana and lived in Denmark until 1983. He returned to England and worked as a trainee at Dart Pottery until 1985 before establishing his own pottery workshop.

His distinctive ceramics are created by the Raku process, fired outdoors. The crackling of the glazes and glowing colours of this method are achieved by placing the red hot pots in sawdust, which ignites with the heat, further charring the unglazed areas. The combinations and textures this creates are as effective as they are unexpected. The patterns incised on the surface of his pots are birds, animals, boats and fish motifs, used in rhythmic and beautiful intertwined shapes. His animals invariably display a certain humour and individual character. They are coloured using slips and metallic salts. Many of his pots, tiles and sculptures are enhanced using gold leaf.