Peter Stichbury

Peter became a full time potter in 1970 after spending time as an Art teacher and also overseas at the Leach Pottery in England and the Abuja Pottery Training Centre in Nigeria. Peter specialises in domestic ware, but delights in large platters, wall-bottles and large standing assembled bottles. He has experience with kilns of different designs and has developed a gas (LPG) kiln which is still in production.

Peter has tutored for Adult Education, University extensions and many pottery groups, and has taught at ASP since 1995. Peter is one of this country's leading potters.

Chris Southern

Chris Southern started at the ASP as a student 15 years ago and quickly became involved in the wider activities of the Centre, serving on the committee for a number of years while at the same time improving his skills as a domestic-ware potter.

He is experienced as a thrower and a firer - he is familiar with wood-fired kilns and salt and soda firing. His classes concentrate on wheel throwing, but some of his students make hand-built work and he is proficient at teaching those skills as well. He is also an expert tiler - he laid the tiles for the Hundertwasser toilets in Kawakawa.

Graham Ambrose

I started making pottery 10 years ago after a background in furniture design and boatbuilding.  Apart from classes I attended a few years ago, I am self taught.  I exhibit regularly in NZ and overseas with my pots being found in private and public collections in both arenas.

My work is non-functional and is either thrown, slab built or any other method I can devise to achieve what I am aiming for.  I don’t believe there is a right or wrong method if it produces the desired outcome. 

My specialist area is in colourful earthenware glazes and throwing large and small bowls, orbs and more sculptural pieces.  I have been teaching at ASP for about 5 years from hobby to Diploma level.

Margaret Sumich

When I returned from the UK in 1972 I joined a pottery class with a friend to "get out of the house" and developed a passion for clay that took over a major part of my free time until I was potting almost full time in the 80s and 90s.

I first taught at Westlake Boys in the early 80s but found the school system and red tape too demanding on my time (other than classroom). On returning to teach at ASP in the early 90s I found I enjoyed the more professional approach to teaching, and with an active interest in throwing domestic ware, handbuilding sculptural pieces, and experience in many different types of firing I hope I can stimulate students' interest in clay and ceramics.

I was a foundation member of "Artisan Centre" in Newmarket, and am a current member of "Pots of Ponsonby".

Peter Lange

I have been involved with clay for 33 years, working in many areas from wheel-throwing to slip-casting to slab building and brick construction. I also enjoy building kilns and experimenting with firing techniques - I try to involve my students with these firings using salt and soda and wood.

I enjoy teaching throwing particularly to beginners; it is very rewarding watching their first steps, knowing that they are being spared the mistakes that I made at the start of my career in clay. My classes tend to be based on traditional stoneware domestic pots.

Brendan Adams

I was born in Auckland in 1961, and have been making a living from clay since 1987. With Kathryn, I set up Out of the Blue, a shop in Kingsland, which we had for 10 years. Together we run Brendan Adams Design from our home studio in Pt Chevalier, Auckland, NZ.

I have a diploma in Fine Arts from Otago Polytechnic, where I majored in painting.   My domestic ware is well recognised for its Pacific colours, its easy going kiwi attitude and inventiveness. I am also well known for my abstract and figurative sculpture. My work has been exhibited throughout the country in major competitions and exhibitions where I have won several awards, and I am represented in the Auckland Museum, James Wallace and regional collections.

Renton Murray

Renton started his pottery career in England in the 1970s, and after completing his Diploma Course at Harrow Art School, returned to NZ with another Harrow student, Rosie Ewan, and they established their "Hillside Pottery"  in 1975. They have been in the main retail pottery co-operatives ever since: Browns Mill, Albany Village Pottery and now Pots of Ponsonby.

Renton has taught at many night classes and pottery schools and has been a tutor at the ASP for 10 years. He is a lover of pots; simple direct pots that are useable and that hopefully will enrich the lives of both the maker and the user. He is strongly drawn to wheel-thrown, salt-glazed pottery and fires in wood and oil kilns.

Jo-Anne Raill

Jo-Anne began potting at Auckland Teachers College in 1993. She became involved in activities around ASP developing a keen interest in woodfiring originally specialising in wheel work. She diversified into sculptural work while completing a Diploma in Ceramics through Otago Polytechnic. She spent several years tutoring ceramics at Selwyn College. She has a broad knowledge of pottery techniques and is able to teach both hand-building and wheelwork.