Hi I’m Riccardo born in 1991. I completed a Visual Communication Design Degree at Massey University Wellington in 2012. I went on to work in interior design in Italy before coming back to New Zealand and discovering pottery. I’m interested in exploring and harnessing the local raw materials to make my clay and glazes.

Hey, I am a Finnish addition to the pottery team and the most reluctant potter of us all, though being slowly converted with North’s hard work. 

On a daily basis I am trying to keep the artistic types in line, take care of the office side of things, organise courses, coordinate residencies and keep the communication going in the form of our newsletter and social media posts.

I started pottery in 2014 when I became an apprentice at the Leach Pottery in St Ives. I worked as part of the production team there for eight years and now I'm at Driving Creek to start a new production studio. I love making pots for everyday use and I'm particularly interested in wood firing.

I've had a fascination with clay from an early age and this led me to gaining a Bachelor of Ceramics and Glass from Sunderland University in 1987. Two years later, I emigrated to Aotearoa where I landed at Driving Creek spending over two years potting and working on the railway development at Driving Creek. Coming full circle, I am now back at Driving Creek again working to develop the Pottery. In between times, I've had a successful career in both ceramics and Glass, showing widely in Aotearoa and also internationally (Australia, UK, USA).

Hi, I’m Riyah from Cornwall. I’ve always been a very creative person and have a love for art, ceramics and nature. Driving Creek brings all of this together so I'm super happy to be part of the team here.