Studio Opua - Fine Arts and Crafts

Studio Paihia and Studio Waipapa 1993-1995

Stepahead began in 1993, as Matthew Nisbet started to teach himself pottery and ceramics from books and anyone who would teach him.

Right from the beginning I realised the New Zealand market had been taking a hammering from cheap Asian imports and the entire Industry was in danger.

I developed an Artistic Agenda of Surface Decoration and Arts Marketing.

It was a long and arduous journey; I started making tiles in an old 5 cubic foot kiln.

The number of “learning experiences” was enough to make me think several times about what I was doing. And tiles were difficult to sell.

There are difficulties with firing flat objects in a kiln that goes above 1100 degrees Celsius – they tend to bend and crack.

 In those days my work was labelled ‘Waipapa Potteries’ until another Studio took this name and I became ‘Stepahead Ceramics’

Ranfurly Studio 1995 - 1996

I shifted to Auckland to be closer to The Auckland Studio Potters, a collective that offered courses from top potters. It seemed that more tuition was a must!

The real stroke of fortune was moving into a studio that Catherine Anlsemi had just vacated.

Catherine was, in my opinion, the foremost painter of ceramics in NZ. Her designs were innovative, colourful and concentrated on a quality finish that took time (most other ceramists attempt to colour an object in the fastest time possible).

Catherine had just completed a deal with Studio Ceramics, NZ’s largest manufacturer of ceramics, to merge her operation.

As her Studio was next door to her residence, I came under the influence of a Master.

It was at Ranfurly Studio the real work began.

I was still preserving with tiles and doing poorly selling them at markets.

One morning Catherine told me to start making tableware – I never looked back.

The first designs were animal patterns in Zebra and Leopard. The Zebra is still going today!

The inspiration series was combinations of bright colours and contasting rims – they were very popular.

At this time Natalie Couch and Penny Kerr began painting  and designing whilst studying at Elam Art College.

A workshop environment began as we casted forms from a clay slip and painted and glazed and sold them through shops and markets.

Tapa Designs

We had a real break through with the Tapa Designs.

Auckland is the largest Pacific city in the world and the influence is seen all over.

Natalie and Penny were intrigued by a Tapa Design cup and saucer that had been left by a Student working in Catherine’s Studio.

We trialed and developed a series that became very popular from the first open day.

Design Connection  1996- 2001

A retail space was found around the corner. At the time the lease for the entire Ranfurly Studio was shared between David Sussock and Matthew.

We decided to build a design store specialising in New Zealand Objects, The Design Connection was created and opened at the end of April 1996.

A studio was built in the adjoining building for Stepahead Ceramics and a staff varied between 4 part timers and two full time employees.

Orders were strong and with the extra effort of the Design Store little new developments in designs were released.

In 1998 Matthew sent a pallet of ceramics to London and spent a month looking to establish some outlets on the other side of the world.

He has always believed the New Zealand tableware culture had been too strongly influenced by English design and felt it important to take his work to the United Kingdom – Coals to Newcastle – as it were!

The trip was successful with sales through Ceramica Blue in Notting Hill and The British Museum Store.

At this time large orders were also been sent for sale in Samoa and Australia.

Alex Burton painted and glazed during this period.

Wiramu Mason was designing and undertaking all aspects of the ceramic process.

In 2001 Matthew was invited to attend a Major Keramic Markt in Germany and closed Design Connection to travel Europe selling his ceramics.

This coincided with two design being produced by Studio Ceramics of Auckland, enabling a steady supply for NZ and the Pacific.

Europe and Antarctica 2001

Matthew sent a pallet of ceramics to Munich and attended the Keramik Markt at Landsberg am Lech in May.

It was a success and he found a place to stay in the Bavarian town of Peiting for the next 6 months.

Markets were attended in Munich, Hamburg, Freiburg, Murnau, Schonberg, Weissenhorn, Traunstein, Vienna - Austria, Meilsbeck- Holland, Rome and Florence – Italy, Perth - Scotland

The experience was educational and the ceramics well received, it almost ended in Matthew opening a European Studio.

However an invitation to visit Scott Base in Antarctica changed his plans.

Ten day was spent ‘on the Ice’ in November for an inspirational tour of New Zealand’s Scientific research base.

Ambrico Studio 2002-2005

After returning to New Zealand in 2001, Matthew opened his fifth studio on a historic reserve for the last traditional down draft kiln in New Lynn, Waitakere City.

Here a number of new designs were produced and trialed.

Although great research and development was undertaken, family issues delayed any new developments

Studio Opua 2007 onward

After moving to The Bay of Islands to be close to his family, Studio Opua was opened as a ceramic studio and retail gallery.

Here exciting work has been undertaken with the DPM pattern being developed.

Other projects are currently underway and will be released shortly