Alan and Julia Rhodes produce hand-thrown pots with magnificent glazes that are unique to the Coromandel Peninsula. Alan is also well known as the co-founder of the iconic Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. This popular band with a score of country music awards was inducted into New Zealand's country music Hands of Fame in 2015. Their last album, These Old Hands, finalist for Best Country Music Album at the Golden Guitar awards paid special tribute to Alan’s life story and craft. "Music and pots — that's me," says Alan.

When not handling clay Alan and Julia can be seen still jamming and playing music locally.
In a stroke of pure Coromandel luck, Alan and Julia discovered beautiful stoneware clay on their own property. They dig and process this to hand make their pottery which is fired in a gas kiln. This high fired pottery has the advantage of being ovenproof, microwave and dishwasher safe. Recently they’ve also been making low-fired saggar pots in a tiny gas kiln.

Wander up a bush path to their studio where you can meet these artists and discover a treasure trove of stoneware pottery with a real “terroir” (sense of place) to the Coromandel.
Further up the same driveway are Mercury Bay Art Escape fellow potters, Gary Nevin and Julie Burns-Nevin who specialise in figurative and animalistic pieces displayed in the garden of their self-built adobe house.