Member Gallery & Directory

Listing in this section is available to all financial Valley Potters members upon application and an annual subscription of $10. All funds raised go directly to Valley Potters, thereby helping  the group to do more for you the member.

Subscribers are each entitled to include any or all of the following items:

• Name
• Studio/Business name
• Preferred contact details (phone, email, website)
• Text of your choice, up to 100 words
• One image of your work

The annual subscription fee entitles each member to update their text and image once per year (not cumulative).

Juliet Widdows

ph: (03) 5968 3026
email:julietcw@bigpond.com

My work is often inspired by nature, small glimpses of fern tendrils, vines, insides of seashells etc...
I like my work to be useful, beautiful and have a sense of fun or whimsy. I like to stretch the clay by elongating lugs or handles, and by creating mixed media using found objects and wire.

Graham Mercer

ph: (03) 9844 2765
email: graham@grahammercer.com.au
website: www.grahammercer.com.au

My sense of humour is an integral part of my personality, and humour is something that I like to incorporate into my work whenever possible. Accordingly I have assembled a collection of tea pots, functional and/or decorative, that incorporate a play on words into their titles to create a common theme and unify the series.
The pieces make use of various clays and incorporate throwing and handbuilding techniques. Surface treatments such as dry, matt and gloss glazes are employed for decoration, supplemented with stains, and various firing techniques to achieve a range of finishes.  

Helen Taylor

ph: (03) 9544 6383
email: hjtaylor@optusnet.com.au

The majority of my work is thrown on the wheel, some pieces are then altered depending on what I want to achieve. I enjoy making bowls, bottles, plates and shaped pots, my glazes are decorated with a synthetic ash glaze, which will run in its own path, finishing in jewel like pools, creating a beauty all its own. My choice of clay is white stoneware, and fired in a brick kiln to 1300ºC.

Mabel (Mabelle) Marra

ph: (03) 9701 5227
email: mabelmarra@optusnet.com.au

My approach to ceramics has a lot to do with my Argentinean background, these pots are inspired by the Condorhuasi period 650BC to 700AD from North Western Argentina.
My pots are all fired by the traditional pre-Columbian method and as such no two are alike.
The people are going about the daily chores therefore having all different experiences as playing instruments, working, meditating and even childbirth.
There are animals and also Gods in this series, they are called Shamans and are different kinds like the "Pachamama" or mother earth, the bird man or "Pisco Runa" just to name some.

Raine Edwards

ph: (03) 9551 1565
email: raineedwards@hotmail.com

I specialize in limited edition Sculpture, Pottery and Clay Masks.
My Sculptures and bowls depict the beauty and colour of dancers. I want to show the movement of their body as they dance to the hidden music.
My sculptures are one off pieces, I do this because I make a form that appeals to me when making it, this could be influenced by something I have seen, a girl walking down the street, a dancer on a stage or television, a photograph in a magazine or just my imagination.
My masks are individually designed and are suitable for house or garden.

Laura Windmill

ph: (03) 5962 6606
email: laurawind28@hotmail.com

My interest in ceramics began as a teenager, and has continued through until now. I enjoy all aspects of the ceramic process, from the making to the finished article.
The colours and tones of the Australian Outback influence my current work. I prefer the "unexpectedness" of the firing techniques that I am presently experimenting with. Primitive firing techniques such as raku, sagger and paper kilns are all used to achieve the desired results.
Ceramics to me is a changing journey of styles, effects and techniques. Hopefully this journey will always continue in new directions.

Yvonne Strik

ph: (03) 5968 4392
email: yrstrik@westnet.com.au

I discovered my love for pottery in 1976 and since then it has been a ongoing relationship with clay.
I am mainly self taught, but gained knowledge by attending seminars, workshops, reading and experimenting.
My pots are decorative, handbuilt pieces, often textured, in high fired stoneware, relating to the environment. They are glazed inside and metallic oxides or coloured stains applied on the outside.
My inspiration comes from looking at my natural surroundings. I have been influenced by the rugged landscapes and the rich colours of the Australian Outback.
My aim is to make pots for people to love, hold and look at.

Lynda Kent

ph: (03) 9758 1205
email: lyndakent65@optusnet.com.au

My functional work consists of cups, bowls, teapots, all Hand-Made on the potter's wheel.
My decorative pieces are wheel-thrown, altered and finished by hand. The vessels are glazed to reflect my love of Australian landscapes and seascapes.
I use porcelainous stoneware clay and glaze on glaze. I spray glazes to create variation and depth of colour. My glazes are glossy and high-fired.
Functional pieces are Microwave Safe, Oven-Proof and Dishwasher-Safe.

Susan Miller

ph: (03) 9803 5769

Clay is my favourite form of self-expression. I love the feel of it, shaping and changing it into 3D things that say something. You can tell where I'm at in whether the clay woman is drowning or in a liferaft; berating God or pleading with him.
Soon I hope to make my own glazes, which opens up more possibilities.
Clay is therapy, imagination, emotion and conversation.