Katherine Smyth is a Wellington ceramic artist whose distinctive work has been influenced both by her past life as a chef and time spent living and working in the Middle East.

Born in Christchurch, Smyth studied ceramics at the National Art School in Sydney before travelling to Europe.  In 1993 Smyth and English potter Jim Mason travelled to Taibeh near Petra in Jordan where they taught local women potting skills.

After her experience in Jordan, Smyth began making tall vases and jugs inspired by Bronze Age serving and storage vessels. A later visit to Cyprus and an encounter with an ancient opium pot provided the inspiration for Smyth’s Fruit series of endearing watermelon, cantaloupe, feijoa and strawberry forms.

Smyth’s works are held in the collections of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, The Dowse Art Museum, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the Wallace Arts Trust, the London Museum and the British Institute for Archeology and History in Jordan.

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