	Mark HEWITT (USA) Dates: b.1955 Mark Hewitt was born in Stoke-on-Trent, England where his introduction to ceramics was through his family's business as directors of Spode, the fine china manufacturers. While studying at Bristol University in the 1970s he was given a copy of Bernard Leach's A Potter's Book. Excited by the possibilities of a career in hand-made rather than industrial pottery, he was taken on as an apprentice by Michael Cardew for three years. In 1979 he left Cardew and travelled to West Africa for two years, visiting Suleja in Nigeria where Cardew had set up his training centre. His journeys also took him to the Far East where he particularly admired Korean pottery. Eventually he settled in the USA, first in Connecticut where he worked with Todd Piker, another Cardew student. Here he met his future wife, Carol. In 1983 the couple moved to Pittsboro, North Carolina and set up their own pottery. His work incorporates North Carolinian folk traditions and he uses local clays. He is especially known for his large scale wood-fired, salt-glazed jars and storage pots, but he also produces affordable domestic ware. His work is grounded in older traditions but is made contemporary through his personal interpretation such as his popular series of Iced Tea Ceremony Vessels. He was a demonstrator in the International Ceramics Festival 2011.

Mark HEWITT (USA)

Dates: b.1955

Mark Hewitt was born in Stoke-on-Trent, England where his introduction to ceramics was through his family's business as directors of Spode, the fine china manufacturers. While studying at Bristol University in the 1970s he was given a copy of Bernard Leach's A Potter's Book. Excited by the possibilities of a career in hand-made rather than industrial pottery, he was taken on as an apprentice by Michael Cardew for three years. In 1979 he left Cardew and travelled to West Africa for two years, visiting Suleja in Nigeria where Cardew had set up his training centre. His journeys also took him to the Far East where he particularly admired Korean pottery. Eventually he settled in the USA, first in Connecticut where he worked with Todd Piker, another Cardew student. Here he met his future wife, Carol. In 1983 the couple moved to Pittsboro, North Carolina and set up their own pottery. His work incorporates North Carolinian folk traditions and he uses local clays. He is especially known for his large scale wood-fired, salt-glazed jars and storage pots, but he also produces affordable domestic ware. His work is grounded in older traditions but is made contemporary through his personal interpretation such as his popular series of Iced Tea Ceremony Vessels. He was a demonstrator in the International Ceramics Festival 2011.