Leonard Bell studied for a Diploma of Arts (Ceramics) from the Bendigo School of Mines from 1961-4, and also qualified as teacher at the Technical Teachers College, Toorak in 1967. From 1974-5, he worked for John Davidson at his New Mills Pottery, Cornwall, UK, learning a style of brushwork there which he brought back with him to Australia and applied to his own production line. Basing himself at Woodstock on Loddon, near Bendigo, he established the Woodstock Pottery in 1976. In later years, he re-established himself at Mondrook. He marks his work with an impressed 'LB' or an incised 'Leonard Bell'. The Woodstock Pottery mark is an impressed 'WP'. The Mondrook Pottery mark is an impressed 'Mondrook Pottery'.