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... alive and well in Wellington . (photographs & article by Aimee McLeod)
 Wellington Potters Supplies 
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Beryl and Brian Buchanan owned Wellington Potters Supplies in Khandallah for over 20 years, supplying local and not so local potters with both materials and lots of advice.
After Brian’s death, Beryl continued to manage the shop on her own for another year or so. It was exhausting work. Wanting to sell, she resisted several offers from people who wanted to take the business out of town because of her loyalty to the local customers.
And then along came Warren and Kate Fransham.
Warren and Kate had been full time potters, oh, way back, when pottery was in its heyday and thriving in NZ. They lived and worked in Hamilton, and were founding members of the “Fire and Form” Potters Co-op. In the 80s, when import bans were lifted and cheap imports flooded the country, they decided to get out of the game. Kate has lots of connections with the performing arts world, and ran her own dance school with daughter Alison for more than
 Beryl's Exhibition
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25 years both in Hamilton and Wellington. Warren went back to teaching art, first at Melville High in Hamilton where he designed the new Ceramics Department then as Head of Art at Petone College for 5 years. From there he spent the next 9 years in Real Estate in Wellington's Northern Suburbs.
After some much needed R & R in Whangamata they returned to Wellington on the look out for a new business to get their teeth into.
They saw the potential of WPS and the neighbouring spaces. They took over the shop in June, Beryl heaving a sigh of relief. At last she would get some time to herself, a much needed holiday, and be able to get back to potting. The local potters are truly indebted to her for having held out to keep the shop in Wellington.
 Wellington Potters Supplies
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The Franshams set about painting, reorganising the shop and breaking through the walls to the spaces next door, in the first instance enlarging the shop space. The furthest space has become Kate’s workshop, where, in between customers and looking after their grandson, she can work on her mixed media art- clay masks, paintings and “Lurkers”.
The middle part has become a gallery space. It is only fitting that Beryl should be the first exhibitor to use the space, and on the 31st of October a good crowd turned up to the opening, to celebrate both Beryl and the new venture. Kate’s objective is to have an accessible gallery, open to artists in any medium.
Warren and Kate’s potting background and knowledge will play a vital part in their services to customers. Apart from supplying the locals, mail orders form a large part of their daily tasks. They have lots of plans for the future including a website with online ordering and workshop space out the back so the alterations will be ongoing for a while, but it’s looking good.
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