Meet Our Instructors
Pam's journey into the world of pottery began as a generous gift from a friend who enrolled her in pottery classes. Little did she know that this gift would blossom into a passion that has spanned over 15 years.Her ceramics journey took an exciting turn in 2012 when she ventured into participating in pottery sales, specializing in crafting intricate gingerbread houses and cat feeding dishes. Pam's knack for combining creativity and craftsmanship has made her creations highly sought after by yearly collectors of her tiny gingerbread houses.Retirement opened up a world of possibilities for Pam, allowing her to dedicate more time to her beloved pottery. Her work is a joyful reflection of her diverse interests, drawing inspiration fromher decades-long love for cake decorating, her deep affection for animals, and an affinity for creating detailed, miniature pieces. With every piece she creates, she invites us into a world of whimsy, intricacy, and heartfelt artistry.​
Teresa is a Newmarket-based ceramic artist. For thirty-two years, she was an elementary school teacher. Watching her students' creative exploration of material made her want to be a maker as well as a facilitator. Seizing this dream, Teresa went back to school and completed the Craft and Design Ceramics program at Sheridan College. With her new diploma, Teresa began a second career as a potter/ceramic artist. From 2014 to 2017, she was an artist-in-residence in the Ceramic Studio at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. In 2017, Teresa opened her own studio in Newmarket, ON. Combining her skills as a potter and a teacher, Teresa offers a variety of classes at her home studio as well as teaching classes at the Guild.
Sheena Griffith
Sheena is a native of Scotland who came to Canada with her family in 1951. Having always had an interest in working with her hands, she explored working with clay at Sir Sanford Fleming College in Peterborough, ON. She has been a member and teacher at the Pine Tree Potters' Guild since its founding and has benefited from many classes and workshops offered there. Presently working from her home studio in Aurora, she has recently enjoyed making decorative towers but functional, wheel-thrown pieces for use in the home remain her priority.
Cathy began working with clay in 1987. After honing her skills, she taught a night school class for adults at a local high school, helped set up the studio and taught classes at the Newmarket School of Fine Art and continues teaching classes at the Guild. She remains fascinated with its endless challenges and enormous potential to stimulate curiosity and satisfy the need to make objects of use and beauty. In her studio, aptly titled Potter’s Pleasure, she produces functional and decorative porcelain work. She has participated in juried exhibitions and shows across the GTA for over 25 years. Cathy has served on the Board of a Directors of both the Pine Tree Potters’ Guild and the Aurora Cultural Centre and is a member of FUSION: The Ontario Clay and Glass Association. Cathy remains active in community fundraising events, sales and exhibitions for the Guild.
Kendra has loved making pottery since she was very young. She was born and raised in coastal Massachusetts where she and her mother started a studio/shop that they named Seawind Pottery, where they both made and sold their creations. They were so enthusiastic about potting that they set up their potters wheel in a tent in the backyard before their studio was built!
Kendra especially loves making wheel-thrown pieces such as salad bowls, teapots, casseroles and other serving dishes. She is inspired by the organic forms, shapes and colours that the shore and coastal landscapes offer.
Kendra has been a member of Pine Tree Potters' Guild since 1999, and enjoys participating in the Guild’s sales, and teaching students the joy of pottery making. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the United States, and then moved to Canada, which she now calls home.
Diane is both a jeweller and a potter. She loves to create original one-of-a-kind pieces of functional art, whether it is to be worn, or used in the home. She grew up in the jewellery industry, working in her family’s fine jewellery store in Toronto. After completing the jewellery arts program at George Brown College, she worked as a jeweller and a designer for several years. Diane's curious and creative side led her to explore new materials and techniques. She took a pottery class and was hooked! It was a whole new avenue for creativity.The use of colour in various glazes, and organic shapes and textures, often taken from nature, led her to create a line of pottery (platters, bowls and mugs) that is both functional and beautiful. No two pieces are exactly the same, much like in nature itself.
Jillian was introduced to clay in a grade 9 art class and followed that up with a March break course in Elliot Lake. Totally hooked on clay, she took several evening wheel classes at Dundas Valley School of Art where clay became a passion. Five years of apprenticeship followed with Matik Pottery in Greensville and with Gary Moxam's Hope Pottery in Peterborough, throwing in both stoneware and porcelain and firing in both oxidation and cone 10 reduction. Demonstrating in the arts and crafts building during the C.N.E. each summer was an exciting part of learning the skills. She worked out of her own studio, Homestead Pottery, for several years until she took a break while raising a family.Jillian is now happily playing with clay full time at the Pine Tree Potters' Guild in Aurora, ON.
Linda Lepone
Linda Lepone has studied ceramic arts at the Pine Tree Potters' Guild since 2017 and is currently teaching the fundamentals of hand-building.
Linda employs a variety of techniques in her hand-built artistic creations, specialising in the ancient technique of hand coiling. Working out of her home studio in Pefferlaw, ON, Linda enjoys using a wide range of methods and continues to develop as a ceramic artist.
Pine Tree Potters' Guild (PTPG) provided Lisa-Marie with her introduction to pottery making in January 2017 through a beginner's hand-building class, lead by fellow PTPG potter and artist, Linda Szoldatits. As a long time admirer (and purchaser) of pottery, the experience of learning to make pottery felt amazing. In continuing to expand her knowledge through classes, in January 2018, she was introduced to the wheel by fellow PTPG member and teacher, Teresa Dunlop. Both Linda and Teresa provided the inspiration and formative teachings she will forever be grateful for and Lisa looks forward to passing on her pottery knowledge and skills to future generations of potters!Lisa-Marie became a member of PTPG in January 2018 and has been actively involved through supporting various guild roles, events and initiatives as well as continuing to develop in the craft. She has been Chair of of the Guild's Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser since 2021 and also maintains their social media pages.With a focus on creating functional pottery, pieces are meant to be enjoyed in everyday life! You'll see her work at our annual pottery sales but she would also be happy to create something customized just for you; commissions are welcomed!
Trained as a biochemist, Rhonda's foray into clay began in 2007 when she took a Tiles and Extrusions course at the Haliburton School of Art + Design. Soon thereafter, she bought a small kiln to continue working with clay at home. Earlier explorations in printmaking, both relief and collagraph, are combined with her ceramic practice to create unique surface decoration. Rhonda is drawn to the minutiae in everyday life, the delicate details created by the hand of man or Mother Nature that, in our hurried lives, are overlooked by many. From skeletonized magnolia leaves to bits of tatted lace, you will often find these details preserved on the surface of Rhonda's work. While she does make some functional work, Rhonda prefers to to create ceramic tiles as her canvas. Individual tiles may be mounted as works of art in their own right, combined into assemblages she calls Tile Quilts, or used to frame a mirror. She also mixes her own handmade tiles with commercial ones to create mosaics. Rhonda has been a studio member of the Pine Tree Potters' Guild since 2014. She is also a member of Toronto Potters, Hamilton Potters' Guild, FUSION: The Ontario Clay and Glass Association, and Craft Ontario. Her work is available for sale in the shops at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo and Gardiner Museum in Toronto, and at Craft Ontario in Toronto.