“wild, free and true to nature”

I am a self taught ceramic artist, gathering inspiration from nature and all of its creatures. The environment that surrounds me is integrated throughout my work. I strongly believe all created objects should be worthy of the physical space they occupy both practical, sculptural or whatever you need it to be.
One of the questions l am asked is why Hell Wench?

 Hell Wench was a nickname given to me over 30 years ago when I worked as a nightclub bouncer. A group of young surfers—cheeky, rambunctious, but polite—would often come to the club. I’d let them in, knowing full well they’d be thrown out within half an hour.

One night, the boldest of the group told me it was his birthday and asked if he could share a story. He explained that people assumed he was drunk or high because of his speech and the way he walked. Then he told me why: after mouthing off to the wrong person, he was beaten and thrown onto a car, where the antenna pierced his skull, leaving him with lasting physical and verbal challenges.

That night, I told the other bouncers to let them be. Five hours later, they left happy and grateful. The young man stopped, thanked me, and said it was the best birthday he’d ever had. Then he called me a “Hell Wench.” I must have looked puzzled because he explained: “It means wild, free, and true to nature.”

When I started my ceramics studio, that name—and its meaning—felt like the perfect fit. It’s not just a name; it’s an ethos. Wild, free, and true to nature—just like the work I create.