Welcome to Nikki Wallace-Bell Ceramics, where every piece of ceramics you see on these pages is handmade with love and care by me, Nikki. Based in beautiful Sumner, Canterbury, New Zealand, I create unique and one-of-a-kind tableware, homewares, and sculptural pieces in my converted garage studio.
I grew up in Clifton, Bedfordshire in the UK, surrounded by fields of corn and spending lazy Sundays watching my dad playing cricket on the local green. Holidays were spent climbing big hills with a bag of crisps and a coke waiting at the local pub if we made it to the top! Throughout my childhood, I was encouraged to draw, paint and stick by my parents, and it was at my secondary school that I first encountered clay.
I fell in love with the medium and continued my education at Barnfield College in Luton, where I developed my passion for clay and honed my handbuilding and throwing techniques. From there, I went on to obtain a postgraduate degree in teaching and worked as a secondary art teacher before making the move to Aotearoa in 2004 with my family.
Although I loved teaching ceramics and visual art in high schools, I was always desperate to realize my dream of becoming a practicing ceramicist. Over the years, I worked as an educator at COCA Gallery, relieved in schools, and wrote content for the MOE. At COCA, I was also responsible for a gallery area dedicated to exhibitions/displays for children, which allowed me to meet contemporary artists and work with children outside of a school setting.
In 2011, after the Canterbury earthquakes, I found myself out of work and founded The Sumner Art Window, a space where artists could exhibit their work, viewed through a window due to structural repairs. It was a fantastic experience that allowed me to make some amazing connections and friends in the art world.
In 2019, I finally took the step towards my dream and gave up teaching to set up my own business, Art At Sumner Hub, teaching art to children after school and pottery to adults in the evening. As a community-oriented person, I felt that it was the right thing to do in Sumner, and I have been able to make some fantastic connections and friends.
2021 brought a new challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic, and I was called upon by the Sumner Community Residents Association to help raise morale in the community. With their support, I was able to run The Great Sumner Art Boom, where residents could create uplifting artwork and feel more connected during a time of isolation.
Today, I am still teaching at the Sumner Hub, and I'm excited to announce the latest development - Social Pottery! Join me in my studio for a fun and social pottery experience, where you'll create unique and beautiful pieces while enjoying the company of others. I'm committed to using sustainable resources and incorporating my local environment into my artwork, and I look forward to expanding my range of sculptural pieces.
If you're looking for a unique and personal touch to your home decor or want to experience the joy of pottery, come and book with me at Nikki Wallace-Bell Ceramics. Every piece is handmade with care and love, and I can't wait to share them with you.