Bernie has been experimenting with different art forms and mediums for most of her life. It is however the clay medium that in 2006 became her true love. It's an obsession that she is happy to say is impossible to shake! To share her love of clay with others, she started Hannah's Pottery Studio; a place where people from all walks of life come together, forming friendships, exchanging ideas, and inspiring one another.

Over the years, Bernie has honed her skills by experimenting with various techniques and styles to develop a distinctive artistic voice. Her creations exhibit a harmonious blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics. From sgraffito to raku firing techniques, with every creation, Bernie strives to touch the hearts and minds of others.

Bernie believes that pottery is not just about creating functional objects or beautiful works of art; it is a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. When not covered in clay, she enjoys walking the dogs (Molly, Alfie, and Junior) and visiting with fellow Potter friends to chat about the many wonders of clay. "To this day it blows my mind that one can take a lump of dirt and transform it into something beautiful which gives others visual pleasure – isn't that just the most wonderful thing!".

A creative informal group of talented artists with a real passion for working with clay. Hobby ceramicists with great aptitude.

Fern Coast Pottery is inspired by Bush walks and glassy waves. The love of nature and getting hands on keeps me motivated to create. Making unique one of kind pieces, with colours that keep your eyes delighted for days.

Mark Mitchell  grew up in NZ in a creative environment  - he was always curious to see what his father had been inventing in his studio. His background in ceramics began in 1996 when he was working in a commercial pottery in Auckland.  He then became self-employed as a slip caster for 2 years.

He completed his Fine Arts degree IN 2001 and from  2002- 2005 was employed as the Pottery Tutor at Hungry Creek Art School, Auckland.  Here he continued to develop mold making and throwing skills, slab building processes, and surface treatments using terra sigilatta, decals, enamels, and screen printing.

He was chosen to represent NZ as an emerging Artist at the Fule International Ceramic Museums in China in 2007, where he worked alongside a group of internationally recognized Artists for 7 weeks. This was situated in an industrial tile and brick factory in the Shaanxi province, China.

In 2009 he was recipient of a 3 month residency in Shigaraki Cultural Ceramic Park, Japan, awarded by The Japan Foundation, Sydney. This gave him  the opportunity to solely focus on creating a new body of work in an internationally recognized ceramic residency programme.  Since then he has been creating ceramic art - vessels, wall art and sculpture.

Click on the images below to see enlargements of some of his work.

Nicky Jolly was taught pottery by her Uncle over 40 years ago.

Gaining a Ceramics Certificate and Visual Arts Degree, she has taught both pottery and art classes and exhibited in group and solo shows.

She makes and sells hand-built and wheel-made work from her home-based studio and gallery in Kerikeri and at our local Packhouse market every Saturday.

Having played with plasticine since a small child, Nicky Lawty has now progressed to real clay!

She loves trying to push the boundaries and create something different, experimenting with techniques and textures, often incorporating some form of electrical component into her work.

My name is Vicki Comrie-Moore, I have been involved with clay and sculpture from a very early age.

Growing up I had the opportunity to take a class with two established potters in Wellington and from then on I was hooked!

When I wasn't on my horse I was sketching and trying to find new ways to take what I'd drawn and make into some sort of 3D sculpture. As an adult my work started to gain interest back in 1999 when I started exhibiting at a few galleries around the central north Island, Rotorua in particular with Peter Reynolds Interiors. As my work gained popularity I started to do larger pieces and exhibited at the 'Ellerslie Flower Show' two years in a row, This was an exciting time for me and I gained several commissions and had my work featured on 'Maggie Barrys Garden Show'.

From 2009 while living with my sister and daughter in Dairy Flat I came up with the 'Party People' garden stake idea and the public embraced them with enthusiasm, we travelled around the country with 'The Great NewZealand Craft Show' and from then on people have collected the 'Party People' ever since. I am self taught and my work is fun, quirky and bright!