Iwi Affiliations: Te Ātiāwa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Ruanui, Tauranga Moana Tribes.
I am from Waitara in Taranaki, now living in Bell Block which is 10 minutes north of New Plymouth. Ive been making pots for nearly 20 years now, full time for 15. My husband and I have a seaside home on the North Taranaki coast and I draw my inspiration by the rugged sea in front of us and Taranaki Maunga at my shoulder.
I work from a large studio and retail shop located in the Bell Block Shopping Centre. I feel really lucky that over the years ive put together a fantastic studio, Ive bought my own kilns, wheels and all the equipment I could ever need for a busy pottery workshop.
Im known for the sculptural pots and bowls I make, with intricate textures, patterns and vibrant glazes in strong colours I make myself. I make whatever I feel like, and it shows in the wide variety of work I have. From sculptural intricately decorated pots to fun garden flowers, I love that sponteneity.
The markings I create on my pots invite touch. The textures often carry small references important to me, and reflect my Maori heritage.
When it comes to glazes, I mostly make my own and I favour glossy jewel colours like emerald, sapphire, topaz, and ruby. Colour is so important to my work, these intense hues add depth and an extra dimension to my pieces. I love to see my glazes mixing together and flowing and pooling on the clay surface. I love making new glazes, recently Ive been working with volcanic lava glazes with a cracked and fissured surface, and also on a different foray using kokowai in my glazes which has been giving me some exciting results.
