Our Committee

The SPA is a Scottish Charity managed by a committee who are elected each year at our AGM.

All members of the committee are also members of the Charity and volunteer to serve on the committee.

They are also Trustees of the Charity. They are assisted by a number of sub-committees with one or more members each, who carry out specific tasks. These members are not Trustees and do not normally attend committee meetings.

Please see below for your 2026-2027 Committee Members.

2026 to 2027 Committee

Connie Robertson - Chair and Membership Secretary

My name is Connie, I am SPA Chair and Membership Secretary and this is my clay story….

My pottery journey started with a very encouraging teacher at Fraserburgh Academy! I managed a clown figure holding balloons, I was hooked.

Then life happened and no clay for many years, a casual chat with my boss, uncovered her access to clay and equipment stored in her garage. Jamie had all his tools and stock stashed in Carols garage and we got to play with clay again. Jamie was our coach/mentor and ear to all our questions. We were allowed 3 at a time! Over the years all friends and family have been maxed out with my makes I now have an annual sale at NEOS ( North East Open Studios) in September

I joined SPA after attending Potfest and getting involved with helping out. SPA offer so many fantastic workshops at the social curry afterwards I got to hear that volunteers for committee posts were a bit sparse, I am always willing to help a friendly fantastic group of like minded clay heads, and put my hand up to be membership secretary.

Looking forward to a future of SPA workshops, Potfests, Springflings and meeting up with lots of other potters, creating with clay

chair@scottishpotters.org

membership@scottishpotters.org

Carol Hiles - Treasurer

I have dabbled in clay for a while, but it's only since retiring and attending a pottery sculpting course that it has become a passion. I joined SPA in 2020 with the aim of going to the spring gathering, but covid put a stop to that. I remained a member as they are such a friendly and welcoming bunch of people.

treasurer@scottishpotters.org

Jacques Scorgie - E-Bulletin

Hello, I am Jacque, my role on the committee is to take care of the Ebulliton, and keep the potters up to date on as much Pottery information that's going on and happening within the Scottish Potters Association from month to month.

Clay came into my life through education, dib and dabs through school but properly with college and doing my HND in Contemporary art. My first day of college was my first ever life drawing which I was told would later in the term become a sculpture. This sculpture was made in clay from slabs, and my first proper start to finish artwork was made, the possibilities of clay are what keep me coming back, the range of clay bodies, the glazes and decoration and the constant suspense of putting something in the kiln and not knowing if it will come through the other side in one piece or in what colour…

Since graduating clay was the material that called out for more exploration, exploring abstract sculptures, slip casting and themes of imagination, humanity, and nature I aim to create work that is intriguing and exciting for audiences visually and texturally through making and decoration. At the moment my making goals are focussed on sculptures with height, and breaking into 3D decoration.

My journey to the Scottish Potters was discovering them through my first ever Potfest visit after lockdowns. I'd never known there was a whole group of Scottish Potters, taking a leaflet to investigate further. On further investigation, I signed up to the ebullition, there was an exhibition out in Perth the following year with Raku demonstrations, I went along and met the then committee members, potters and was told how wonderful it was to be part of, then I joined and in 2025 went to my first ever Spring Gathering and was inspired by the atmosphere and the fantastic potters, and all things Pottery chat! Spring Gathering 2026, there was a shout for Committee members, an opportunity to get to know many more of my fellow Associates, I signed up.

Through this role I hope to be the friendly face that the potters come to and let know of their events and achievements, taking the opportunity to celebrate and share that news with their fellow potters. Come and say hello, always happy to have a chat about all things ceramics.

Kirsty Bloom - Newsletter

Hello! I’m Kirsty and I’m taking on the role of Newsletter Editor this year. I live in Lochaber, have three (young adult) kids, and besides potting, love sea kayaking, being out in the hills, my wee veg and cutting garden, music, photography, etc...

My clay fixation started in lockdown when my partner bought a few bags of clay and we all got totally hooked. He then built a kick wheel, and a raku kiln, and we went through a couple of terrible old second hand electric kilns before taking a leap and buying a new one. I like handbuilding raku pieces and throwing functional ware. I love that there is always more to explore and learn in ceramics, and I really enjoyed meeting everyone at Millport this year and expanding my clay horizons whilst trying not to feel too much like a pottery impostor!

Kirsty Forsyth - Workshop Bookings

When I was a student occupational therapist in the early 80’s I learnt basic hand building techniques and the therapeutic benefits of pottery at Langside College in Glasgow. Many years later I took classes, learnt to throw on the wheel and found that I wanted to be hands on with clay more often.
So, in 2015 I retired from the NHS and set up a mini pottery studio in our garage on the beautiful Island of Arran. I now take part in local craft fairs and am part of a collaborative group of artists and makers on Arran. I am still learning and developing my skills.
I joined the SPA as Secretary so that I could use my skills with a vibrant, inspiring group of people who are passionate about pottery.

Amy Benzie - Co-Exhibitions

Hi, I’m Amy - a ceramic maker based in a studio in Torry, Aberdeen and working as Ceramics Technician at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop in Lumsden as well as Co-Director at Aberdeen Ceramics Studio where I often meet some of our members. I have a particular curiosity for glaze chemistry and atmospheric firing and enjoy the spontaneity that comes with this. The exchanges between art and science have a big influence on the forms and textures of the work I make and I have most recently been exploring local geology. I’ve always loved how clay has allowed me to visit new places and meet new people, and I’m excited to jointly take on this role.

Kevin Andrew Morris - Co-Exhibitions

Hi , I’m Kevin based at the Scottish Ceramics Gallery in Aberdeen alongside my role as Technical Services Officer in Ceramics at Grays School of Art and as a Co-Director at Aberdeen Ceramics Studio. Thematically my practice has been shaped by the physical and cultural landscape I find myself in, exploring themes of identity and place through local eating and drinking cultures, focusing on narratives and rituals associated with place through slip casting and wood firing. Much like the SPA I feel by its very nature wood firing forges connection, cohesiveness and symbolizes the intrinsically communal and collaborative aspects of ceramics and I am looking forward to working with you!

Oonagh Gil - Workshops

María Poyato - Student Representative

I am Maria, an artist based in Edinburgh currently making ceramics, illustration, exploring mixed media and spending as much time outdoors as I can.

My work is influenced by how nature helps us feel sane and grounded, inviting us to live a slow, simple and yet, joyful life.

Focusing on the landscape that surrounds me, I explore the organic beauty that I find in nature, with a special interest in found objects and earthy colours. This results in my ceramics bearing a significant presence of botanic motifs, organic textures, animals and astrology with a rustic, homely, earth-reverent feel to them.

I like to wheel-throw most of my pieces but hand building and sculpture are important techniques in my practice too. I use found objects to make organic marks and imprints on my pieces, such as leaves, bark and fossils, as well as illustration techniques like sgraffito and hand carving. I use a range of stoneware bodies and fire in both oxidation and reduction.

After a 2 year apprenticeship at Mud Station, now I work as an Studio Assistant at Aku Ceramics and volunteer as Student officer at SPA where I want to create community around potters in Scotland!

I also sell my pottery in local shops and host monthly pottery workshop where I teach people how to incorporate found object in clay.

Evie Jackson - Website Editor

Hello, I'm Evie, a part-time (wannabe) potter based in Perthshire.

I started taking pottery classes on a whim in 2018 and was hooked from the beginning - although that may also be due to the chaos, madness and laughter that happens during a class.

Various life things happened, the regular rollercoaster, however that lead me to having a little more time to spend in the studio, where I create whimsical things inspired by nature and Scotland.

I joined the SPA in 2025, immediately attending my first Spring Gathering which was a wonderful experience and now I am here...

Sylwia Kolasinska - Social Media

Sub-committee members 2025-26

Roos Eisma - Website Technology

I started pottery classes in 2015 and shortly after I quit my job. I now sell my handbuilt sculptural vessels at ceramics shows and I love my new life!

website@scottishpotters.org

Carl Radford - Workshop Assistant

Gaynor Etter - Non committee member

Caroline Gault - IT Tech

Fourteen years ago, a friend asked me to come along to a ceramics evening class, I jumped at the chance, as I had never dabbled in clay, and I am always up to learn new crafts. 17 lessons later and a couple of years doing ceramics at my friend’s house and I eventually set up my own studio in the front room of my house.

Once I had the studio there was nothing holding me back. I filled my cupboards and shelves; all family and friends had several of my "pots" and my only avenue left was selling through local craft shops. These days I would say I’m a serious hobbyist - still got the day job. I love getting out and about to sell face-to-face at craft fairs, Horror Cons and ceramic fairs.

At my first SPA spring gathering in March 2019 I walked away as the social media committee member. Since that evening I have done Social Media, eBulletin, Newsletter, exhibitions, vice chair...I cannot stop raising my hand.