Living and Creating on the Mornington Peninsula: How Natalie’s Environment Continues to Shape Her Practice and Life
- The Daily Mirror Rppfm 98.7
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Chat session 159 with Natalie Heriot
Topic- A Life Unfolding: Navigating an Unconventional and Non-Linear Journey into the World of Ceramics
Monday 15th June 2026 1pm https://rppfm.com.au
Grounded in Place: Natalie’s Connection to Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula
Natalie is a potter whose practice is deeply rooted in the landscape of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Living and working in this coastal region, she is influenced by its coastline, scrub, wind, and salt. These elements sit quietly beneath her work, shaping her approach to material, form, and process. There’s a steadiness to this environment that mirrors her own work ethic and a resilience that continually draws her back. While she doesn’t consciously replicate her surroundings in her ceramics, the textures, restraint, and quiet persistence evident in her work are embedded in her relationship with the landscape.
A Non-Linear Path to Ceramics
Her journey into ceramics has been anything but straightforward. Clay has always been a steady undercurrent in her life, running alongside her careers in nursing, health and safety, and raising a family. She didn’t start out as a full-time artist but has always returned to making because it speaks to her on a physical and instinctive level. Her initial contact with clay felt immediate and honest—something that didn't require explanation, just a natural recognition of its potential.
From Working-Class Roots to Resilience
Growing up in a working-class family as one of five children, Natalie’s early life was shaped by necessity and practicality. Money was tight, and she left school without a clear direction. She briefly pursued a fine art degree but moved into factory work—repetitive, physical labor that demanded endurance. Later, she trained as a nurse, building a career that supported her as a single parent raising four children. Her experiences in care, vulnerability, and survival have instilled qualities of presence and resilience that she carries into her making.
Experience in Systems and Structure
Her transition into roles within health, safety, and regulatory environments further sharpened her awareness of systems, risk, and accountability. Working within structured environments, she learned how systems can either support or erode wellbeing. This background has given her a keen understanding of physical and psychological strain—an understanding that subtly informs her approach to her ceramics practice.
Returning to Education and Reclaiming Agency
Natalie’s return to education as a mature student marked a pivotal moment. Completing a Diploma of Ceramics, a bachelor’s degree in Adult Learning and Development, and a Master of Education, she reclaimed her agency after feeling disconnected from formal learning in her youth. Education became a way for her to reshape her identity and belief in the transformative power of knowledge and skill.
Ceramics as a Space for Reflection and Resistance
Throughout her life’s many layers, clay has remained a constant. Her practice offers a stark contrast to her professional roles—slower, more responsive, and less constrained by rules. It provides a space for retreat and steadiness, a way to step outside systems that measure and control. For Natalie, working with clay is an intuitive process—allowing pieces to emerge through flow rather than strict intention, embracing the tension between control and letting go.
The Beauty of Imperfection and Functionality
Natalie is drawn to the utilitarian nature of ceramics—objects meant to be used daily. She values forms like cups, bowls, and vessels that are practical and rooted in everyday life. Yet, she resists the idea that function must come with perfection. Her work intentionally holds variations—shifting edges, moving surfaces, irregular forms—evidence of the hand’s movement and decision-making. Each piece bears the marks of its making, embodying honesty and character.
A Narrative of Humanity and Life
Her ceramics embody a broader narrative—a reflection of lived experience and material understanding. They challenge industrial ideals of perfection, embracing the reality that life is rarely neat or uniform. Her work acknowledges that usefulness doesn’t exclude beauty or character. Instead, it highlights that objects for daily use can also be expressive, carrying stories of touch, movement, and time.
Clay as a Tool for Survival and Expression
For Natalie, clay is more than a material; it’s a sanctuary. It’s a tactile world she can retreat into when life feels overwhelming or uncertain. Making is both a form of survival and a means of expression—an ongoing act of persistence. Her practice remains grounded in place and experience, shaping her life as much as her work shapes her.
Living and Working on the Mornington Peninsula
Today, Natalie continues to live and work on the Mornington Peninsula, where her practice remains intertwined with her environment and her experiences. Making is not separate from her life—it’s embedded within it. Her ongoing relationship with clay is driven by the same reason she’s always been drawn to it: because it holds her, sustains her, and continues to be a vital part of her story.
Discover the World of Natalie Heriot Ceramics: Follow Her Artistic Journey, View Her Unique Creations, and Stay Updated on New Works and Exhibitions
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