Watercolour of Village Pottery

We were pleased to see that a summer visitor had chosen to paint the shop and gardens during her summer vacation and even more pleased to be presented with the finished painting. Thanks Shirley.

Pottery Brie Bakers

Pottery Brie Bakers are a great way to serve cheese.
Here are two recipes --

Brie Melt

Sprinkle about a 1/4 cup of brown sugar,

1/4 cup walnut pieces, and 1/8 cup of soft butter on top of a 300 gram piece of Brie.

Put in microwave for about 30 seconds or until butter is melted and Brie is starting to melt.

Serve warm with your favourite crackers.

Cranberry Brie Melt

With your favourite Cranberry Chutney, spoon 3/4 cup chutney over top of an 8 inch round of Brie. Put in microwave for about 30 seconds

or until butter is melted and Brie is starting to melt. Garnish with Pecan halves.

Serve warm with your favourite crackers.

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Ida MacKay Pottery

The ceramic creations of Ida MacKay of Mount Stewart, PEI remains some of the most distinctive pottery produced during the 1970's and 1980's on the Island due to her use of an unglazed but highly textured surface. Using various processes she produced work with a natural organic feel. She studied under both Barry Jeeves and Ron Arvidson at Holland College School of Visual Arts in Charlottetown and participated in workshops with visiting artist, including Les Manning whose stretched-slab techniques were influential on her.  Her interest in art and pottery is captured in the landmark book by Gail Crawford, Studio Ceramics in Canada 1920–2005.

Throughout my pursuit of word and image, I met and became friends with some remarkable people. One was Ida MacKay of Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island, who came to Toronto in the 1930s to pursue psychiatric nursing and, at night, to study pottery-making at Central Technical School. One of her pieces appears in Chapter 1. When war broke out, she enlisted, and, as Lieutenant MacKay, she survived several adventures, including abandoning her torpedoed ship near Gibraltar while en route to Italy to care for Canadian troops. In 1970, when she finished her peacetime career in public health, she returned to clay. No longer interested in wheel work, she enrolled in a workshop in Charlottetown that focused on the stretched-slab technique, conducted by Alberta College of Art instructor . . .

Ida used her initials in a vertical format I M M as her potter's mark along with the province "PEI" indicated.

Ida MacKay's six years service as a Canadian Army nurse the during the Second World War is being documented by PEI historian Katherine Dewar, for a forthcoming book scheduled for publication in late 2021. The book is titled We'll Meet Again: P.E.I. Women of the Second World War.

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - St. Clair Pottery

Harry and Dodi Morris lived in various locations on the Island and the St. Clair name came from their sojourn in the historic home - St. Clair House - located in the middle of what is now a suburban area in the Brighton neighbourhood of Charlottetown. As the oldest house in the area, it had extensive grounds extending through a full block, and had several additions to the original structure over the years with multiple staircases giving it the feel of a country inn.

To St. Clair House, the Morrises brought their love of Island sandstone, the native rock of PEI, and added what would become their signature renovation, added to each of their houses - a sandstone fireplace.

From Charlottetown they moved to Victoria, PEI which is well known for its quaint village atmosphere and the artistic community that gravitates there. Their Victoria home and studio, continued since the early 1980's to house various tourist businesses; an antique clock shop and currently The Studio Gallery have followed Dodi and Harry's lead, helping to make the village a special place.

The work of Harry and Dodi Morris made during the 1960's and 1970's carries the pottery mark of St. Clair Pottery - St. C. P., as well as P.E.I. for Prince Edward Island. Some pieces are marked St C H indicating St. Clair House. Each piece also has a unique number attached.  Often their work had a nautical theme and included slab built row boats.

Tree form sculptural piece by St Clair House Pottery

St. Clair House pottery mark - also individual item number as well as what appears to be a PEI Crafts Council sticker number similar to ones used in the Island Craft Shop which had been operated by the PEI Crafts Council during the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's. 

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Jeeves Pottery

Potter, Barry Jeeves along with his wife Joan, an accomplished weaver, arrived on PEI from Banff, Alberta in the early 1970's, so that Barry could accept employment with what was then called the Handcraft Training Centre and eventually became Holland College School of Visual Arts.

Barry was a graduate of the Ontario College of Art in Toronto and Sir George Williams College of Art, Montreal.

The family purchased property, and built their home and studios on the Brackley Point Road, with a retail shop for the summer tourist trade, and Barry teaching pottery during the school year.

When MS kept Barry from working full time, he continued to teach part-time and had a major influence on arts education in Prince Edward Island. When he became confined to a wheelchair he continued to focus his attention on an art form that required less physical ability. He returned to his painting, and would locate buildings which had both an elevator and a view so that he could paint urban scenes from new perspectives.

Both Barry and Joan maintained an active interest in the Arts. His art work was represented in Charlottetown by Details Past and Present Fine Art and Antiques.

Barry used a potter's mark a stamp with the mark "Jeeves P.E.I." he also used a signature "Jeeves PEI".

From the collection of Tom Banks

From the collection of Tom Banks

From the collection of Tom Banks

From the collection of Tom Banks

On May 10, 2015, Barry died. He was a true builder and left an enduring influence on the development of craft as a viable art form on Prince Edward Island. When he arrived he was one of only a few professional craftspeople on the Island; now, his adopted island has become known as a hot bed of fine craft and young artisans are able to pursue their craft at a professional level.

Barry Jeeves' favorite poem:

The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Carl Sagan

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - New London Village Pottery - Kathy Ethridge

Kathy Ethridge join Village Pottery around 2004 and is a multi-talented craftsperson who besides being a potter, is also an accomplished spinner, weaver, and woodworker.

In 2010, along with partner Robert Kennedy she opened Everyday Pottery in Kensington, PEI.

While working at Village Pottery, she signed her work with the studio name as well as her own initials "KE."

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - New London Village Pottery - Christopher Dahn

In the summer of 2009 Christopher Dahn, who had studied at Nova Scotia College of Art & Design worked at New London Village Pottery. During that time his work was signed with the studio name, as well as his own name or initials.

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Koleszar Pottery

Hedwig Koleszar has been a PEI potter for over thirty years and is the owner operator of Koleszar Pottery located on the Gairloch Road, in Eldon, PEI.

She was the subject of a feature article in the BUZZ recently.

Hedy uses her signature as her potter's mark signing each piece, "Koleszar - PEI."

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Little Orchard Studios - Ron Arvidson

Little Orchard Studios, opened in South Melville, PEI in the late 1970's with the work of a husband and wife team - potter, Ron Arvidson and Anne, a jeweler, established their business on their home property, where they had already established a young orchard. Ron trained at the University of Regina which had emerged as a major centre for the ceramic arts, and upon graduation advanced his studio pottery techniques within the Norman-Crimmins partnership studio in Keswick-Ridge NB, now known as Crimmins Studio. Hired by Holland College School of Visual Arts in Charlottetown in the mid 1970's he influenced a generation of potters through his involvement as pottery instructor. The school closed in the 1990's but Ron continues to teach evening courses through a local pottery co-op, and is an active PEI naturalist. An article on Ron's background as a potter and artist is contained within the Provincial Art Bank website.

Ronald Arvidson of South Melville, Prince Edward Island received a Teaching certificate and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Regina. He has received also the Andromeda Scholarship from the Banff School of Fine Art and has attended numerous workshops in art, pottery, graphic design and computer.

Arvidson has taught pottery, painting and drawing for more than 25 years, and has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions across Canada.

He has works in numerous public and private collections including the Confederation Centre Gallery, Charlottetown PEI and a Sundial installed on the clock tower of Charlottetown City Hall.

Artist Statement: My development in clay has been through training, production, teaching and creating one-of -a-kind work of both a functional and sculptural nature. I endeavor to keep moving forward and have my work grow whether it be through repetition or one-off work.

His Facebook page is ArvidsonCLAY  and Instagram Ron Arvidson.

His work is signed "Arvidson PEI."

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Stanley Studios - Malcolm & Michael Stanley

Malcolm Stanley apprenticed in the early 1970's in the Norman-Crimmins partnership studio in Keswick-Ridge NB. The studio relocated and is now known as Crimmins Studio, with the current involvement of a second generation member of the Crimmins family. Much like his mentor, Malcolm would find that his son Michael Stanley would also embrace pottery as his chosen art form. Moving to PEI in the early 1970's Malcolm and Christine (a weaver) began selling their work through a variety of studios they operated in northern Queens Co. They were partners in the 1980's in a business, and continued to sell their items through a shop located appropriately enough in - Stanley Bridge. Eventually establishing their own shop and studio, Stanley Studios, in a wooded area of the Dixon Rd. - Breadalbane, next to their home. They have been joined in the business by their son Michael, an accomplished Island potter. Malcolm's early work used "Stanley - PEI" as well as the year, as his potter's mark.

Update 2021 - The Stanley family continues to grow as an active craft family on PEI, and a family that takes closeness to heart. Over a number of years Victoria, PEI has become a special place or home for the children and grandchildren of Malcolm and Christine. In 2020 it also became home for Malcolm and Christine when their farm on the Dixon Road in Breadalbane sold, and they purchased a heritage home in the village of Victoria.

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Stoneware Pottery - Sandi Mahon & Katharine Dagg

Stoneware Pottery was established by Sandi Mahon in Milton, PEI in 1973 following graduation from Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, in Halifax.

Returning to her native province she opened a shop and studio near Charlottetown. In the late 1970's Katharine Dagg, a designer and college instructor at Holland College School of Visual Arts joined her in the business. Working together on each piece Katharine handled the decoration and glazing as well as slab work, with Sandi doing all wheel throwing, they built up one of the longest established craft businesses in the Maritimes when they retired after 35 years in business.

Typically all work was signed by the two potters with Sandi using her first name and Katharine her last name and included PEI. As well a studio potters mark was used on the foot of the pot with a stylized mark for the initials of Stoneware Pottery.

Signatures of both Sandi Mahon and Katherine Dagg
as well as the studio stamp of Stoneware Pottery

Their later production work appears to have the potter's mark of the studio on the edge of the bottom along with PEI on the bottom.

Stoneware Pottery closed operations after 35 years of business around 2008, and Sandi Mahon and Katharine Dagg retired from pottery to pursue other interests. Katharine who had done most of the glazing and decorating of their joint workm and had been Design instructor with Holland College School of Visual Arts returned to painting, exhibiting and selling her work on PEI.

From collection of Doug Anderson - photo credit Doug Anderson

From collection of Doug Anderson - photo credit Doug Anderson

From collection of Doug Anderson - photo credit Doug Anderson

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - New London Village Pottery - Patti Hawkins

Patti Hawkins began her pottery career at New London Village Pottery, studying with Daphne Large while she was employed in the shop.

Her work during that time included both the shop name "Village Pottery" - as well as her own initial and name, "PHawkins."



Since establishing Hawkins Pottery Studio in North Granville, her work has been signed with "Patti Hawkins."

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - New London Village Pottery - Barb Graham

Barb Graham grew up around the corner from New London Village Pottery and quickly developed an interest in pottery making. From working within the shop, she quickly progressed to study pottery at the post-secondary level, under Ron Arvidson at Holland College School of Visual Arts, in Charlottetown, PEI.

After graduating from college, she returned to work at Village Pottery before establishing her own with a studio in New London.

During the time she worked at Village Pottery during the 1980's she signed her work with the shop signature as well as her own name "Barb".

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - New London Village Pottery - Christine Campbell

Updated July 6, 2025

The potter with the longest connection to New London Village Pottery, beside the founder, Daphne Large, is Christine Campbell. Christine began work as a summer sales clerk in the 1970s while attending school and would bicycle to work from Kensington on occasion.

Pottery became her passion and she eventually trained with Daphne as a potter. A quick learner, she was able to advance her skill level through self-instruction and practice, and returned to Village Pottery as a studio potter, once her three sons were old enough for her to work full time in the 1990s. She is also a fabric artist and established her own fibre mill to produce wool from raw fleece. 

She relocated to Ontario in the 2020s, but during an extended stay on PEI beginning in 2024 she has returned to Village Pottery once again as a producing potter.

Typically her work is signed with "Village Pottery - PEI - ACC" (being her initials).

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - New London Village Pottery - Large

New London Village Pottery has operated since 1973, and has trained and employed a number of potters over that time. Started by Daphne Large following her graduation from Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, she has typically signed all her work since with "Large - Village Pottery - PEI", as well as including the year.

Staff would find it humourous in the early days when customers would repeatedly pick up items all marked Large and say - "Do you have things in any other sizes ?"

As other potters joined the operation they would also sign their work "Village Pottery - PEI" but often add their own initials or name.

Confusion existed with a business in Nova Scotia which had opened around the same time also called Village Pottery. The addition of New London to the name helped but it was a long name to place on every piece of pottery. The Nova Scotia business eventually changed their business name which solved the issue.

In 1973 all work was in a red earthenware, but in the late 1980's a transition was made to a white clay body. In 2010 some work is made with a reddish clay but the majority is based on white.

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Malone

The recent surfacing of a piece of pottery by a local collector sparked the questions as to who was/is the potter signing their work with the following mark ? The work appears to indicate good level of skill in throwing with thin walls and an eye for shape, yet being an unglazed piece makes one wonder if it may have been student work which somehow never got glazed.

If you have any ideas please let us know.

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - RLP - Burlington Pottery

Ruth and Leigh Paynter, of Burlington Pottery in Burlington PEI, played a pivotal role in establishing the handcraft industry in the North Shore tourist region during the 1960's. Located on the family farm which was next to Woodleigh Replicas, a British theme park with scaled down castles and gardens which was once the largest tourist attraction west of the Cavendish-National Park region, they had sufficient traffic during the summer to establish a viable business on the family farm with visitor traffic coming and going to Woodleigh.

Young people, seeing the viability of pottery as a career choice discovered that there were new opportunities within the tourist industry. Daphne Large, of Charlottetown began work with the Paynters one summer and decided to switch her major to pottery at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax. She graduated in 1973 and opened New London Village Pottery in the same general North Shore region.

The work of the Paynters included both wheel thrown, hand-built construction, and some that was slip cast as well using moulds that they designed. All the work was in a red earthenware clay body, typical of native clay bodies on the Island. Ruth signed her work with both the studio name and PEI as well as her three initials RLP.

Their glaze experimentation was most notable and many of their glazes continue to impress potters today.

Ruth in retirement, was a respected local historian and author of From the Top of the Hill. A chapter of the book was later published in the Island Magazine as Here Comes the Travellin' Man. A talented woman with a rich memory and generous spirit she passed away peacefully in 2009.

PAYNTER - Ruth L. (Moase) of Clinton and formerly of Burlington on Nov 26th, 2009 at age 92. Born in New Annan, the daughter of the late Harry and Mary (Burrows) Moase. Wife of the late Leigh M. Paynter


The property that had housed Burlington Pottery was purchased in recent years by Harry Carr, his son had a strong interest in pottery.