Mat Smith Photography

London Corporate & Editorial Portrait Photographer

Photolife Blog

Pens, Pots and Pictures: An afternoon with Elizabeth MacNeal

· 1 min read · by Mat Smith

Elizabeth MacNeal, author and potter, on garden steps, portrait by Mat Smith Photography, East London
Outside the pottery studio
Elizabeth MacNeal, author, in a green smock dress in her garden, portrait by Mat Smith Photography, East London

Congratulations to potter and author Elizabeth MacNeal, whose first novel The Doll Factory, a gripping 19th century tale of love, curiosity and possession set in London (published by Picador next year), is now also set to be adapted for TV by the team behind Netflix and ITV hit Marcella.

Mat Smith Photography had the pleasure of spending a few hours with Elizabeth in her home to take publicity shots a couple of weeks ago.

It was a bright hot day and we dodged both sun's glare and garden sprinklers in Elizabeth’s secluded East London garden to shoot portraits for The Doll Factory book sleeve.

Elizabeth MacNeal, author, cross-legged under a garden umbrella, portrait by Mat Smith Photography, East London
Elizabeth's favorite spot for editing and proof reading

At the bottom of the garden lies Elizabeth's potting studio, and to our delight we explored Elizabeth's latest ceramic wares, packed and stacked in boxes, and lined on wooden shelves, dragging ourselves away only to make time for some more shots.

Elizabeth MacNeal, potter, in dungarees in her pottery studio, portrait by Mat Smith Photography, East London
Surrounded by ceramics
Elizabeth MacNeal, author, cross-legged on her sofa, black and white portrait by Mat Smith Photography
The best place for a spot of telly - shortly to be her own novel on screen!

We walked away from the shoot with a TV "must watch" tip from Elizabeth (Happy Valley, in case you wondered - we binge watched and can highly recommend), two beautiful handmade MacNeal cups (from which I drink coffee as I type today) plus the future anticipation of a thrilling novel to read and another TV series suggestion. Can’t wait.

Congratulations again, Elizabeth. We wish you every success with the television adaptation and future work!

Author Elizabeth MacNeal's writing desk at home in East London

All photographs on this blog are Copyright Mat Smith Photography 2026 unless otherwise indicated.

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