Amanda grew up and was educated on the North Shore of Sydney’s Middle Harbour.  Always overly studious, her life changed at 14 when she collapsed at a school dance requiring lengthy hospitalisation and ongoing therapy to learn how to walk, talk, read and write all over again.  The condition left her with permanent visual impairment and a greatly altered personality.  Amanda’s outlook immediately changed from “fiercely competitive” where she wanted to be the best at everything to one that reflected a more carefree attitude towards her surroundings. 

At age 20, Amanda spent much of a year travelling around Australia on her own.  It was during this time she met the love of her life on an island off North Queensland who just happened to hail from Coffs Harbour.  “I never thought I could live In Coffs Harbour and it took us both some years to get back here, but now I can’t picture living anywhere else, its pretty great”.

After studying and working with families for many years, Amanda began creating with clay in 1999.  “I was immediately hooked on the amazing feelings that clay held for me and I knew instantly that another of life’s special moments had found me”.  Amanda attended private classes before enrolling in formal tertiary studies in ceramics.  Those studies have continued to the point where she now views herself as a permanent installation at the institution.

As an emerging artist, Amanda is always developing her skills and techniques to enhance her style.  Her pieces are textured with knocks and cuts, scrapes and bumps and many never quite make it to display “I kill LOTS and LOTS of pots.  I cant see everything I need to and it invariably makes for quite a messy and frustrating business – but always fun”.  Amanda demonstrates a wide range of styles from hand building to wheelwork and creates forms that are both functional and visually pleasing.

Somewhere Amanda also found enough time to gain a Degree in Social Studies - Human Services at Southern Cross University and currently combines her work and play through successfully developing ceramic therapy groups for people with disabilities.  Everyone is welcome and people make their own pieces.  The classes promote physical, intellectual and emotional wellness and they allow people to display their ability, enhancing self awareness and self confidence, provide socialisation and feelings of achievement.  Everyone has fun.

 “With the necessary skills and techniques EVERYONE has the power to forge their own perfect futures”