IT’S fitting that the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre feature artist Gill Wards’ pottery works are being exhibited at the same time as their Bonsai exhibition.

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After all a Bonsai is shaped and fitted to the pot chosen for it.

The two exhibitions will be held concurrently with National Gardening Week with the centre’s gardens open on Sunday 8 October.

Gill Ward is a multi-talented artist who enjoys participating in many of the groups within the Community Art Centre.

For English born Gill, art has been a passion since she was 11 years old.

In her early career she attended Leicester College of Art to Study Foundation and Leisurewear design.

At 19, she gained a City and Guilds Diploma, which qualified her to become a designer.

In 1973 her career with Berlei brought her to Sydney.

Nine years later she moved to Port Stephens where she resumed painting.

Her paintings are mainly in acrylics, watercolour, and pen and ink.

She has won over 100 prizes and commendations, including three prizes at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Most recently Gill has taken up making hand built pottery and incorporating paintings of animals, birds and flowers.

She also makes handmade cards, magnets and signed prints.

Gill Ward told News Of The Area, “I love to be creative and hand building pottery gives me plenty of challenges to achieve my design goals.”

Gill believes that her background in fashion design has been invaluable to her artistic works.

“Being able to hand build pottery and then paint my designs on the pieces is something which I am enjoying greatly,” she said.

The potter’s barn at the Port Stephens Community Art Centre has first class facilities including several kilns and wheels.

Anyone interested in taking part in the pottery group can contact the centre.

By Marian SAMPSON