Meet Kimberley Tonkin

Hub Manager & Pottery Tutor

  • Over 30 years connection to pottery, with a focused on teaching a community based creative practice.

  • Specialising in hand building and surface design, with an intuitive and accessible approach to clay.

  • Supportive, down to earth teaching style that supports all skill levels, from beginners to returning makers.

  • Strong emphasis on creativity, building confidence, and enjoying the process rather than striving for perfection.

  • Extensive background in arts, design, and adult education, bringing depth, structure, and real world experience into every class.

Email me directly: kim@clayandcotton.co.nz
Phone: 0291 277 177

I have been working with pottery since 1994, beginning with a natural curiosity adopted from my beloved artistic grandmother that gradually grew into a lifelong creative practice. My first formal training took place in Christchurch in 2002, after which I spent around ten years exploring pottery as a passionate hobby. Life then took me in a different direction for a time, and I stepped away for another ten years before returning to clay with renewed focus and intent.

Over the past four years, my practice has evolved into teaching, which has become a deeply rewarding part of my journey.

My preferred style, both in my own work and in the way I teach, is hand building. I am drawn to its tactile, accessible nature and the way it allows people to connect with the material in an intuitive and expressive way.

Alongside pottery, I have a strong academic and professional background in the arts. Studying Graphic Design and Masters in Advertising and Communication.

With my love for teaching others how to create, I gained a Certificate in Training and Assessment and became an Adobe Certified Trainer, which led me to teach adult learners across capital cities throughout Australia. Alongside this, I owned and operated a printing company for eight years in Brisbane.

Teaching has always been a consistent thread in my life. Whether through graphic design or now through pottery and creative arts, I have found great fulfillment in sharing knowledge and supporting others in their creative journeys.

In recent years, I have naturally shifted more of my focus into pottery and teaching, finding it to be a more sustainable and meaningful path, particularly as the landscape of the design industry continues to evolve with the introduction of AI.

At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to community, creativity, and making art accessible to others.