Being creative has always been part of my life, as a child I was always drawing, painting, crafting. My true passions are painting and pottery. I have been lucky enough to have been taught by some excellent Auckland Artists and Potters. I am a member at Auckland Studio Potters and have explored many forms of firing, surface decorating, throwing and hand building; raku, naked raku, pit firing, nerikomi to name just a few. The beauty of clay is that it continues to offer me opportunities for exploration and experimentation, something I value enormously. I have had work in exhibitions; The Depot, (Devonport), Studio One Toi Tu, Bath St Gallery, Nourish. Exhibiting is rewarding but the pure act of creating is such a beautiful form of escapism and relaxation, so fulfilling & satisfying in itself.
To discover the joy of learning early is what drew me to Teaching and to instil that desire in children, the desire of lifelong learning. I have taught 5 - 12 years in Primary schools and Intermediates. I have also worked in the Graphic design industry, training at a time when computers were about to revolutionize the industry. As well as designing I also used my Teaching background to train others on the various design software.
The call to return to teaching children is never far. Over the last 2 years I have been able to combine the two passions of pottery and working with children. I work with the extremely experienced and talented tutor Julia Watson at Auckland Studio Potters, teaching the children’s holiday programme.
I also teach hand building to parents and caregivers of children with disabilities from The Wilson Home School, Takapuna. Working with clay is one of the most rewarding ways to do active, yet very relaxing mindfulness. For both adults and children, watching the stresses of daily life drop from their shoulders when they begin to play and work with clay is so rewarding.
