Rhiannon lives on the South Coast in NSW, a local inspiration of an artist living her dream by taking the jump from hobby potter to full-time ceramicist. When Rhiannon isn’t working in her backyard studio you’ll find her walking the beaches and escarpment bush tracks looking for her next muse. We had the opportunity to explore Rhiannon’s beautiful 20th century home, meet Iggy the cat and discover what’s not so common about Rhiannon.
WORDS BY ANNA HEYLIGERS - IMAGES BY ANNA HEYLIGERS
Rhiannon lives on the South Coast in NSW, a local inspiration of an artist living her dream by taking the jump from hobby potter to full-time ceramicist. When Rhiannon isn’t working in her backyard studio you’ll find her walking the beaches and escarpment bush tracks looking for her next muse. We had the opportunity to explore Rhiannon’s beautiful 20th century home, meet Iggy the cat and discover what’s not so common about Rhiannon.
WORDS BY ANNA HEYLIGERS
IMAGES BY ANNA HEYLIGERS
HOW DID YOU START YOUR POTTERY JOURNEY?
It was simple really. A friend of mine invited me to a pottery class a few years ago and I fell in love. Up until recently pottery was purely a hobby until circumstances in my life changed and now have the opportunity to work on my pottery full time.
My studio is a little out-house in our backyard, when I have spare time which essentially should be down time you’ll still find me out there because it’s a space I love to be in.
James, my partner, is my personal cheer squad or drill master depending on which way you want to look at it, there’s always discussion around work. He’s always encouraging and pushing me forward, I think you need that in a relationship.
I haven’t really learnt what balance is yet between my work and home life. I wake up thinking about ceramics and I go to sleep thinking about ceramics, it’s what I love to do.
I will always love one of my earlier pieces and one of the very few I’ve actually kept for myself. It’s a large hand sculpted vase with a tall spout that takes pride of place in our bedroom along with a few of my other treasured keepsakes.
HOW DID YOU START YOUR POTTERY JOURNEY?
It was simple really. A friend of mine invited me to a pottery class a few years ago and I fell in love. Up until recently pottery was purely a hobby until circumstances in my life changed and now have the opportunity to work on my pottery full time.
My studio is a little out-house in our backyard, when I have spare time which essentially should be down time you’ll still find me out there because it’s a space I love to be in.
James, my partner, is my personal cheer squad or drill master depending on which way you want to look at it, there’s always discussion around work. He’s always encouraging and pushing me forward, I think you need that in a relationship.
I haven’t really learnt what balance is yet between my work and home life. I wake up thinking about ceramics and I go to sleep thinking about ceramics, it’s what I love to do.
I will always love one of my earlier pieces and one of the very few I’ve actually kept for myself. It’s a large hand sculpted vase with a tall spout that takes pride of place in our bedroom along with a few of my other treasured keepsakes.
The character of the home is what was important to us. Our house is a time capsule, when my partner, James and I were first looking to buy the house the first things we noticed were the ornate decorative ceilings, fire place and lead-light windows. Our house was built in the early 1900’s, houses were built with creativity in mind in those days I think.
Our home is nestled between the escarpment and the beach either way we look we have both of these in sight which makes this location perfect for us. We have a big enough yard for my garden, my studio and our chickens, also our cat Iggy has plenty of room to lay in the sun shining through to the sunroom in the mornings.
Gardening is another passion I’ve enjoyed particularly since working ceramics full-time. I love being surrounded by nature. My favourite part of the garden is my natives out the front of our house which has flourished over the years. I simply scattered various native seeds throughout the garden a few years ago and now during Spring our front yard comes alive with native wildflowers.
I also have a veggie patch out the back where I love to grow herbs and pumpkin. James does all the cooking in our house, he makes a mean pumpkin soup. There’s nothing quite like cooking and eating your own produce.
The character of the home is what was important to us. Our house is a time capsule, when my partner, James and I were first looking to buy the house the first things we noticed were the ornate decorative ceilings, fire place and lead-light windows. Our house was built in the early 1900’s, houses were built with creativity in mind in those days I think.
Our home is nestled between the escarpment and the beach either way we look we have both of these in sight which makes this location perfect for us. We have a big enough yard for my garden, my studio and our chickens, also our cat Iggy has plenty of room to lay in the sun shining through to the sunroom in the mornings.
Gardening is another passion I’ve enjoyed particularly since working ceramics full-time. I love being surrounded by nature. My favourite part of the garden is my natives out the front of our house which has flourished over the years. I simply scattered various native seeds throughout the garden a few years ago and now during Spring our front yard comes alive with native wildflowers.
I also have a veggie patch out the back where I love to grow herbs and pumpkin. James does all the cooking in our house, he makes a mean pumpkin soup. There’s nothing quite like cooking and eating your own produce.
DO YOU HAVE ANY DAILY RITUALS?
Coffee! And music. I enjoy listening to music while I work. My fail safe album is ‘The Rapture” by Siouxsie & The Banshees. There are days where it can be hard to get motivated and this album always works for me.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR 2018?
I’m excited by what’s to come for me this year. I have recently been accepted to debut my work at the Finders Keepers Market in Sydney on the 4th, 5th & 6th of May. I’m looking forward to meeting other creatives and create collaborative opportunities.
Learn more about Rhiannon here.
DO YOU HAVE ANY DAILY RITUALS?
Coffee! And music. I enjoy listening to music while I work. My fail safe album is ‘The Rapture” by Siouxsie & The Banshees. There are days where it can be hard to get motivated and this album always works for me.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR 2018?
I’m excited by what’s to come for me this year. I have recently been accepted to debut my work at the Finders Keepers Market in Sydney on the 4th, 5th & 6th of May. I’m looking forward to meeting other creatives and create collaborative opportunities.
Learn more about Rhiannon here.
