Potter has designs on Palmwoods attraction
By Carly Saunders

Peter Woods with some of his distinctive Australian pottery

A SELF taught potter who has been displaying his unique style of work on the Sunshine Coast for more than six years, has an exciting plan for a Palmwoods gallery to showcase his "Kookaburra Pottery".

Peter Woods spent 11 years at the Gold Coast working with other potters before moving to Palmwoods six years ago.

His pottery is fine handcrafted stoneware which sets itself apart from other pottery through intricate hand-painted designs with a distinctively Australian flavour.

Peter and his wife Stephanie have established a solid following around the country wholesaling to select galleries, but if you want to see his work on the Sunshine Coast, the Eumundi markets is the only place to go.

"My pottery is somewhat of a tourist attraction at the markets," he said. "People are now coming back each year to see the new designs."

As a result demand for his work is growing and he now has to contract a potter to help him with some of the hand throwing. But the hand painting, about 80 percent of the job, remains entirely his own work.

Burgeoning interest from both visitors and local residents has led to his decision to establish a home base, somewhere he can showcase his works of art.

The gallery, which Peter hopes to establish on the site of the former Lucy’s Stall in Chevallum Road, will him to display his entire range of pottery as well as give demonstrations of how his work is made and pottery throwing.

"The gallery will give me space to exhibit some of the one-off larger pieces which, with only the markets, I cannot do at the moment," he said.

He has a collection of large vases and bowls featuring intricate paintings inspired by photographs of Australian flora and fauna.

Peter and Stephanie also have plans to include aboriginal artwork by Terry Saleh, a fellow potter who is highly regarded on the Sunshine Coast.