This week saw a Penwortham youth worker named Potter Of The Week on The Great Pottery Throwdown, as she impressed judges with her abstract self-structure.

The first challenge saw the potters create a structure of how they see themselves in an abstract way.

57-year-old Christine Cherry created a structure that touched the judges.

She created a structure of herself at 32 when she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Read more: Penwortham youth worker impresses judges on Channel 4’s Great Pottery Throw Down

The build included a hole that symbolised her missing breast.

“It’s a tricky build, but I’m gaining confidence with every new challenge I’m being given.

“I’m going back 25 years. I was young, I got breast cancer. I just had to get on with it. You know, my boys were very young so I didn’t want them to know about it either. So it was something I kept inside.

Now, 25 years on, I feel stronger now, I’m celebrating the fact I’m here now.”

Christine created the design as a letter to herself to tell her 32-year-old self that she is stronger than she realises and not to be ashamed of how her body looks.

The completed structure had “never be ashamed of a scar, it shows a battle won” carved into the design.

The second challenge saw participants throw off the hump to make as many candlesticks as possible from 6kg of clay within 15 minutes.

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Christine came third in the challenge after making four candlesticks with only one going into the bucket.

The final challenge saw the group decorate their self structures with oxides and combustible materials in 30 minutes, which would decorate their structure in the kiln.

The team then went on to build a brick kiln in two hours, using sawdust and combustibles, and heat the kiln to between 900-1,000 degrees.

The kilns were then left to burn for 24 hours.

As Christine took her self sculpture out of the kiln, she became emotional and the finished product.

She said: “I feel quite emotional. It’s quite bizarre because she’s me.

“I think this is beautiful.

“It just feels like a journey is completing. It’s quite strange.”

Other participants also shared how beautiful they found it.

When it came to judging the final piece, the judges were impressed with her piece. She received hugs from both judges.

Judge Keith Brymer said: “It’s the best thing you’ve bloody made.”

While Rich Miller said: “It is brave, but so positive. And I think that’s the thing that comes through.”

Christine’s piece brought tears to the judge’s and participants’ eyes.

Looking back at the challenge she said: “I’m proud that I put myself out there. And I’m proud of what I made.”

Heading into the semi-finals, Christine remains in the competition.

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What did you think of this week’s challenge? Tell us in the comments below.