Pip Woods found pottery many years ago and has recently moved into a full time career having been a finalist in the 2018 and 2022 Portage Ceramic Awards. Based in Wellington, she creates small collections of sculptural vessels in stoneware or porcelain clays, always handbuilt.

“For most of my pieces I use a simple aesthetic with a muted palette. I like to create pieces that sit quietly, and contribute to a sense of calm in the environment. Other pieces I make have a more bold and quirky presence, due to the ‘humanness’ I aim to imbue in the form.” – Pip.

Her influences range from ancient vessels to the natural world, and she is inspired by the illustrations of Dr Seuss, where anthropomorphised objects create playful worlds for his stories and rhymes. This influence can be seen in her Spot Vases (2020).

For her Mountain Vase range (2023), she was inspired by Fiordland’s mossy, misty valleys, and in her Grace Vases (2022), understated forms allow focus to shift to what it holds. Much of her work is perfect as a floral arrangement or a stand alone piece.