IT’S ME, RHI!

Hi friends! I’m Rhiannon, a ceramicist and painter living in subtropical paradise at Buckra Bendinni, Australia with my partner James, our little old dog, two cats, five chickens, three goats and all the wonderful wildlife!

I grew up in the Hunter Valley amongst a very creative family. My earliest creative interests included illustration, soft pastels, watercolour and ceramics. I also dreamed of becoming a clay animator, spending hours modelling with plasticine (and taking up the entire kitchen table with my miniature worlds!).

For all of my 20’s, I had been pursuing my interests and passions in people, animals and the environment, gaining a degree in zoology and working across a plethora of programs and roles in community services. Somewhere along the line, I realised those sectors were no longer for me in their current state, and that I was craving that most familiar and critical part of my being – the exploration of creativity.

In October 2018, I decided to give myself space to make art full time and see where it would lead me. Fast forward a couple of years of trial, error, curve balls, wins and losses, and I’m still here. Clay is the main focus as far as my business goes, however I hope to bring more of the 2D arts to the table a bit later down the track as well.

As I find my feet artistically and as a small business owner, I am gaining room to fold more of my other passions into the mix; using art to contribute and have a voice socially, environmentally and politically.

As ever, things will evolve and develop as I do.

VISION

Handmade ceramics celebrating the wonders of the garden and the beauty of the Australian countryside. Delicate meets rustic in my work; representative of the fresh, colourful and intricate life found in a cottage garden, so often accompanied by the backdrop of a rusty corrugated water tank, eucalypts and shades of denim, found in many country Australian backyards. Each piece is created with intention and bearing evidence of its handmade origins in lieu of perfectionism.

The combination is quintessentially Australiana and feels like home for this artist that grew up in the countryside of the Hunter Valley, NSW. Through my work, I explore the concept of stimulating feelings of nostalgia and ‘home’ to create and/or strengthen a value-based connection with our natural spaces, and to develop an appreciation for things that are not necessarily perfect or new. People protect that which they perceive as home, safety, valuable or beautiful. A more subtle approach to advocacy, conservation and sustainability. Flies and honey, and all that.

SUSTAINABILITY

Ever conscious of the environmental footprint of a craft like ceramics, I source materials as locally and sustainably as possible. This includes spending a lot of time researching and planning around the raw materials I use in my work, the end products I am putting out into the world, and the packaging they arrive there in. I want to make low-impact, durable work that supports other Australian businesses who are committed to doing the same.

Ways in which I have intentionally reduced my footprint is by handbuilding (using less water and electricity than wheel throwing), using midfire clays and ensuring I only fire a full kiln to reduce electricity consumption, recycling my clay scraps, being conservative with raw materials and decorating techniques, and disposing of residual chemicals responsibly.

Hanging items are made using sustainably sourced fair-trade hemp, linen and (minimal) post-consumer recycled cotton.

Packaging is almost wholly post-consumer reused or recycled materials. Aside from postage labels, all packaging and promotional material is made from either paper, cardboard, cello, potato starch or hemp, and entirely compostable. Please consider reusing, recycling or composting packaging materials when your order arrives.