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Gillian McMillan

Gillian McMillan

Ceramics from Powell River

Hours spent at my wheel, or trimming plates, painting with slips, or emptying a kiln are what make me happy.

Gillian McMillan

Gillian McMillan and her archaeologist husband Alan have made their home in Port Moody since 1971. Gillian was raised in Dorset and attended Teacher Training College in London, emigrating to Canada in 1967. She has been a potter and wheel-throwing instructor for decades. When her sons were in their late teens Gillian realized a life-long dream of being a full-time Art student, attending Emily Carr IAD (now ECU) for three years and earning her BFA in Ceramics in 1994. Two years later Gillian was one of a group of artists who advocated for the vacant Port Moody City Hall to become an Arts Centre. Its basement became the pottery department and Gillian was one of two ceramics artists in residence there for three years. In 1999 she re-established her studio in her nearby home. Her signature jugbirds are made of wheel-thrown red earthenware, painted with brightly coloured slips. She also enjoys occasional opportunities to fire stoneware work in a salt or soda kiln. Her work can be found at Circle Craft Co-op on Granville Island and at Jonathon’s Gallery in London, Ontario.

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Supporting B.C. Artisans

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Circle Craft is more than a gallery or a shop. We're a co-operative, owned and run by the artists who make up our membership. That means when you buy from Circle Craft, your purchase goes directly back to the maker behind the work. No middlemen. No corporate margin. Just a community of over 140 B.C. artists building something together, and a place where craft, creativity, and livelihood are all the same thing.

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Circle Craft is rooted in B.C., where 140 artists across the province draw inspiration from some of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth. From the rugged coastline to old-growth forests to the high desert of the interior, our makers are shaped by the place they call home. That connection to this land isn't just inspiration. It shows up in every piece, every medium, and every collection we carry.