Merrie Hamilton and Greg Sugden

In late Octobr 1994, Greg Sugden and Merrie Hamilton leased a large, gracious 19th Century shop at 200 Wallace St. – the northern end of Braidwood’s main street – as a studio. Used to working from their home in the village and wholesaling or exhibiting their ceramics in far-flung galleries, this was an innovative new step.

Twelve years on, they continue to work most days in that big studio with its expansive view to Braidwood Wilson’s grave atop the far hill and the passing parade of townspeople and tourists.

They have always made jewellery as their bread and butter (their collaboration beginning in 1981) and large sculptural pieces for exhibition but, these days, their gallery / shop also maintains a diverse array of their middle range wares including platters, bowls, dishes, tiles, wall plaques and small sculptures. These works are all hand built employing many differing decorative techniques.

Teapot (decorative)

Merrie, trained as a secondary school art teacher, specialised in teaching ceramics.

Lobster "Du Champ"

Greg, while benefiting from it, has changed his Bachelor of Science (Hons.) Degree to be a full-time ceramics artist working collaboratively with Merrie since 1981.

Merrie & Greg exhibited at various galleries from Launceston to Brisbane, from Sydney to Canberra to Orange to Melbourne, in Japan and, of course, at the Studio Altenburg in Braidwood. Their achievements include the Port Hocking Potters’ Prize, the Canberra Potters’ Society Acquisitive prize, the Phillip Craft Award and the Braidwood heritage festival Art prize. Their pieces can be found among the collections of the Art Bank, Canberra Potters’ Society, Griffith Regional Art Gallery and in private collections in Australia, USA, Canada and Japan.