50mm H x 140mm Diameter Jamie Smith is a Nelson-based potter whose work embodies simplicity, integrity, and connection. He is co-founder and co-director of Kiln Studio, a creative hub he established alongside fellow ceramic artist Tom Baker. Together they have cultivated a space that celebrates handmade craft, offering workshops, shared studios, and exhibitions. They both helped ignite a resurgence of ceramics in the Nelson region through initiatives such as Nelson Clay Week. Although surrounded by clay from a young age (his mother was also a ceramicist) Jamie came to pottery in his mid-twenties. What began as curiosity soon evolved into a full commitment to the discipline of throwing, glazing, and firing. He has since refined a distinctive approach to functional stoneware that prioritises form, texture, and use. Every vessel he makes carries subtle variations that reflect both the rhythm of handwork and the individuality of the user. Beyond his own practice, Jamie is deeply engaged in building community. Through Kiln Studio and Nelson Clay Week, he continues to foster opportunities for education, connection, and celebration of handmade ceramics in Aotearoa. His work invites people to slow down, notice, and reconnect with the human story behind everyday objects.
