 His designs were thought to have been a determining factor in the success of Hornsea Pottery, "it was only at the end of the 1950s, following the appointment of William John Clappison as chief designer in 1958 that Hornsea became a major force in modern design".A biography on John Clappison, by Pauline Coyle, was published in April 2007.This official biography includes the full scope and variety of Clappison's work, and was written with his knowledge and co-operation.