Mark James’ ceramics career began 1986 with two years at Nelson Polytechnic studying craft design where he majored in ceramics and gained a certificate in craft design.

From there he built a workshop and gallery in Canvastown, Marlborough, where he operated for many years making and selling a range of pottery in stoneware, earthenware and raku.

In 2003 Mark and family moved to a bush block overlooking the Tasman Sea a few kilometres north of Punakaiki. It was here he started specializing in copper glaze raku pottery. Mark’s work is inspired by the coastal setting, featuring native trees, sunsets and flowers from his garden. 

Over the years he has exhibited work and won several awards in ceramic competitions.

The raku firing technique that Mark employs requires much skill and knowledge. It involves firing the glazed piece in a raku kiln up to around 1000°C. From here, Mark manually removes the red hot piece into a bed of shredded paper which ignites on contact and sawdust is sprinkled over the piece to further spread the flames.  The works are then covered with an inverted drum which excludes oxygen and the reduced atmosphere reacts with the copper glaze, creating unpredictable and often beautiful colours and patterns. This process often requires repeating several times before a desired result is reached.

“I gain much pleasure from the random spectrum of colours and patterns achieved from the copper raku technique, although sometimes this effect can be quite elusive, the results are worth it.” – Mark James

Works are porous, for display only - not designed to hold water