Potter Zak Chalmers has one of the most picturesque clay studios in the country. Sitting high on a hill with uninterrupted panoramic views, Valley Plains Pottery is both a studio and shop for this established potter.

Chalmers hand-built his two wood-fired kilns in 2001 and 2003, which now serve as steady companions in forming his tableware and sculptural works. Each piece is handmade on site from a mixture of local clay and local or imported porcelain, and gains unique details during the many steps of its formation – at the throwing, glazing and firing stages.