John M Mackenzie

John Mackenzie, as I know him, completed a degree in ceramics at Harrow (University of Westminster) in 2001 where he studied under Kyra Cane, Christie Brown, Mo Jupp and Steve Buck.

During his studies he developed a passion for wood fired ceramics and kiln building along with fellow student, John Butler aka Potty John.

I got to know the pair of them while they were students and after graduating they built and fired kilns together, while making their pots separately in different parts of the country.

John Mackenzie grew up in Penzance and the two items of pottery below date from 2002/2004.

This wood-fired bowl is the later of the two pieces.


Here's the mark on the base

This larger bottle is a little later and besides being wood-fired you will notice from the base that salt has also been added to the kiln at some point.



You will note the different incised mark on this.

In May 2004 I held an exhibition at the Harlequin Gallery entitled "Fire & Energy" that consisted of paintings by the artist, Dennis Bowen; wood/oil fired stoneware by Graham Ellerby and anagama fired pottery by John Mackenzie. John's pots sold well, including to the renowned collector, John Shakeshaft. I would have asked him back but he went off the radar........... somewhere in Europe!


This small image is of a large bottle included in the exhibition.

In recent years I have noticed via Instagram that John is back in the UK and wood-firing again around his old home of Penzance. He has a website too but that doesn't give a great deal more information.

A couple of more items of John's work from around 2004.