Sam Dickenson

Country: NZ
Field of Art: Ceramist
Instagram: @samdmakes

Sam Dickenson is a passionate ceramic artist who discovered her love for pottery as a teenager. She went on to study ceramic design at Central St Martins and spent five years designing and creating pottery in London before relocating to Auckland in 2007. After a break from her practice due to family commitments, Sam has returned to ceramics with the support of the Auckland Studio Potters. She now explores handbuilding, working with slabs, plaster, and ceramic molds made from found and self-created forms.

Naomi Allen

Country: NZ
Field of Art: Ceramics, Sculpture
Instagram: @namzeedidit

Naomi Allan is a Tāmaki Makaurau-based ceramicist, avid second-hand shopper, and hot beverage enthusiast. With a strong passion for the potter's wheel, Naomi has been awarded the Driving Creek residency through the Auckland Studio Potters' annual Fire and Clay competition. This opportunity allows her to escape the city and immerse herself in the beauty of Driving Creek. When not potting, she works as a waitress at her family business, Ima Cuisine, or indulges in horror and science fiction, themes that often influence her ceramic work.

Isobel Thom

Country: NZ
Field of Art: Ceramics

Isobel Thom has been creating slab-built ceramics for nearly 15 years. Initially focusing on domestic ware, she has expanded her repertoire to include various household items and building materials, such as tiles and bricks. Isobel enjoys crafting practical items and small off-grid appliances, including sinks, mushroom farms, and alternative cooling vessels. She predominantly uses recycled clay, which she processes through a slab roller, favoring a highly grogged clay with a bit of texture.

Ben Pyne

Country: NZ
Field of Art: Ceramics
Instagram: @benpyneveramics
Website: https://benpyne.com/

Ben Pyne is a ceramicist and designer based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. His work explores the connections between local geology and ceramic craft, and how these connections influence our built environment. A significant part of his practice involves researching the geological materials of Aotearoa, drawing inspiration from their formation, history, and chemistry. Ben has extensively researched and tested the use of basalt, the bedrock of Tāmaki Makaurau, as functional glazes.

Nicola Shuttleworth

Country: NZ
Field of Art: Ceramics
Website: nicolashuttleworth.co.nz
Instagram: @nicola.maker

Nicola Shuttleworth is a small-scale production potter based in Aotearoa, whose work draws inspiration from early New Zealand studio pottery traditions. With a commitment to craftsmanship and usability, Nicola produces beautiful, functional wares that are made to be used and cherished. Her approach balances discipline and intuition, resulting in forms that are both practical and elegant. At Driving Creek, Nicola is taking time to refine her practice, connect with local materials, and find fresh inspiration in the natural setting.

Simon Morris

Country: NZ
Field of Art: Ceramics
Instagram: @simonmorris9

Simon Morris is a multidisciplinary artist based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, known for his thoughtful investigations into space, repetition, and rhythm. While traditionally working in painting and installation, Simon’s current focus on ceramics represents a new material exploration. He brings his minimalist aesthetic and philosophical approach to clay, treating form and surface with meditative discipline. His goal at Driving Creek is to create with intention, allowing the slower pace of clay to inform his process.