Ceramics & Pottery
In alphabetical order by surname.
Virginia Angus trained as a graphic Artist working in Wellington, Auckland and London. When Virginia and Stuart Angus returned to New Zealand they bought 10 acres of land at Riverhead near Albany and began building a 75 cubic foot diesel kiln. This kiln was used for some time over the next 35 years.
After 46 years living in Riverhead they sold their property and moved to Katikati which they love.They still make pottery, ceramics and metal sculpture and gradually making jewellery has now become part of their creative lives.
Virginia Angus
- Katikati
Barby Barclay
- Thames
Elise Belovic
- Thames
I live on the Thames Coast, creating one off, gas fired pottery pieces using unique glazes that are nice for your garden and home.
I enjoy making new glazes and experimenting with colour
Paddy Bourke
- Auckland
Julie Burns-Nevin
- Whenuakite
Dianne Caton
- Waihi
Dianne has been working, and loving clay for over 35 years.
A New Zealander, working in the U.S. for over 30 years, her work echoes the culture she grew up in.
Carving and altering the pieces when leatherhard, Dianne now concentrates on slab vessels, boxes and sculptures.
Ursula Graham
- Auckland
I have been playing with clay since my mid thirties. I attended night classes in Auckland and have been lucky enough to be in a pottery group where there is a kiln to get my work fired.
It has been an interesting association over the years, and I have been able to take part in wood fired kilns, salt and raku as well as pit firings, each giving a different finish to the pieces.
Pottery has been my main interest and I have been a member of the Thames Art Society for 10 years. This wonderful group has been very inspiring and I enjoy sharing ideas with the potters and members of the gallery. It is such a buzz to see my work displayed in this beautiful gallery.
Paul Heffernan
- Thames
From their home on the water’s edge at Tararu, just along from the gallery, Paul & Kathy Heffernan create paintings, ceramic works and children’s books.
Mr Heff works in a small studio at the entrance to the property where he makes whimsical and wacky detailed ceramic pieces. Each designed to give folk a chuckle. Kathy applies the colourful glazes. Paul also writes and illustrates children’s books which he publishes himself. Mr Heff’s work can also be seen at www.mrheff.co.nz
Alan Jones
- Thames
My interest in pottery started with mastering the wheel but over the years I became more interested in developing forms and shapes, building and sculpturing by hand.
My wood turning skills also allow me to incorporate recycled native timbers into my art.
Ian Jones
- Thames
Denise Judd
- Thames
Denise has lived in the Thames area most of her life, and started doing pottery about 20 years ago.
Denise likes to push the clay to its limit in its design and challenge herself with technical ideas.
She also enjoys experimenting with different types of firings for example pit and wood fired raku.
Sue Marsh
- Ngatea
I’m a new potter. Started slab work 3 years ago but often had long breaks so am really a novice at this.
I love working with clay. It is the only medium I’ve found that if you stuff it up you can just smash it down and start over again. The process of building something, glazing it and never really knowing how it’s going to look, surprises always.
The fish are Raku, a process I love of burning with fire, smothering in sawdust and then immersing in water. Clay work has been calming and has taught me patience.
Leigh Matthew
- Thames
Leigh is a wood carving and ceramic artist, he uses traditional methods in wood carving and glazes his ceramics to create an organic, weathered look.
His style is influenced from Celtic and Pacific origins.
Maree McGill
- Thames
Deborah McNair
- Katikati
Hi! My name is Deborah A McNair (‘DAM’). I’ve been doing pottery for several years now. It took me a few years and a few different projects (like making a clock) to find out what I really like to do.
I hand build with Ross Bensons’ clay (Turama ahi pottery). I love bold bright colours and clear lines with inspiration from science fiction and classic comic books.
I sell my work privately and through Thames Art Gallery. Thank you for your curiosity.
Gary Nevin
- Whenuakite
Gary Nevin lives at Whenakite and makes his versions of humans and animals.
Visit our garden gallery at 1367 State Highway 25, Whenuakite, Whitianga.
Kay Ogilvie
- Coromandel
I’ve been potting for 30 years now, changing direction often and still absolutely loving it.
My studio, just out of Coromandel Town, is open when the sign is out or by arrangement
1800 Wyuna Bay Rd, ph 020 4191 7611
Colleen O'Leary
- Thames
Dany Pike
- Coromandel
Pam Plummer
- Thames
I'm involved both with ceramic sculpture using stains and oxides and mixed media painting. Usually figurative and in painting I enjoy a mix of acrylic, drawing and collage.
In the 1960's I graduated in fine arts at Elam School of Art Canterbury, specializing in sculpture and some years later did a diploma of Secondary Education. I taught for over 12 years and came to live in Thames some years ago.
Murray Rainey
- Coromandel
Art is about expressive intent.
So when throwing something on the pottery wheel I feel that part of me is imbedded into the piece. Whether it is a single piece or a repeat form it still carries it.
In throwing time I’m very young and still have this desire to explore (though mature in age). A lot of my work is functional art and so typically has a use.
Glazing and firing are a whole big can of worms. I find that this torments me the most, as in the kiln it is all great and bad at the same time. Until you can take your first peek, usually very quickly and then you have to endure hours more of waiting for it to cool.
The satisfaction of the work as it is finished is enormous.
Charlene Scott
- Coromandel
After having my dreams of attending art school dashed by well meaning parents as a teenager, I dabbled in art for many years. I finally returned to it seriously around 2015 whilst living in Queenstown, realising it was THE thing that really got my juices flowing. (I also returned to dance around the same time but that is a different story). Traditionally a painter, I discovered the joys of clay when I moved to the Coromandel in 2018 through local potter and friend Kay Ogilvie. Due to my concerns about the environmental impact of using acrylics, I had been moving away from painting anyway and clay seemed like the perfect natural choice. Plus I love the way it feels and comes to life in my hands.
I create freeform artworks and am generally inspired by the feminine. This manifests in many different ways; feminine archetypes, mythical figures, goddesses, the female body and mother earth. My work usually has a story for me rather than me trying to convey a story through the work. It is my intention that, through my work, viewers rekindle their reverence for the divine feminine and our great Earth Mother.
You can view more of my work at www.charlenescottartist.com.
Gael Thomas
- Thames
Gael joined the Thames Art Gallery pottery group in June 2022 where she gets informal tutoring and heaps of encouragement and support! Her focus to date has been hand made work creating a variety of shapes and forms.
Previously a felter, a curiousity about pottery led her to change tack. Moving from fabric to clay has proved challenging but enjoyable, and mostly rewarding.
Wyn Tyrell-Baxter
- Thames
I was first introduced to the exciting world of Ceramics as an art student at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, California in the mid 1960's and have retained a passionate love of clay since!
I endeavour to create robust work using a mix of locally dug clays and fired in our Kauaeranga Valley wood fired kiln.
