Rest In Peace - Andrew Pearson. 1968 - 2024

​
​​Commemorating the life
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of a great man.

​​It is with a very heavy heart I write about the tragic passing of a good friend, a great man, and a very influential bonsai ceramicist. 
​On the morning of Tuesday 3rd December Andrew Pearson passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at his home in Kent.

A generous soul. Each year Andrew made & donated such a piece to be auctioned for the Royal British Legion.

​A dedicated family man, Andrew was a loving husband and father, and a loyal and caring friend to many, including myself. He will be sorely missed by many. Our thoughts go out to his wife Marie and family. 

​An original founding member of the EBPC, and a close personal friend, Andrew Pearson of Stone Monkey Ceramics will be long remembered by many for his kind heart, his extraordinary craftsmanship, and the impact he had on bonsai ceramics globally.

From when he began making pottery in 2002, Andrew's pots continued to improve in finesse and popularity. A definite style developed, to which Andrew stayed true, even as his work evolved and he experimented with different types and styles of bonsai pots over time. 

Andrew's work is therefore usually recognisable at a glance, as is often the case for the very best artists. ​

​Instrumental in the formation of the EBPC in 2017, Andrew was not only a big inspiration, but was also very supportive from the very inception. Many exquisite Stone Monkey Ceramics pots, with EBPC stamps, are now in the hands of enthusiasts worldwide, for which we are very grateful to him. Representing Andrew and his world-class bonsai ceramics has been an honour and a pleasure. 
​

Andrew with somewhat of a hero of his - Seizan of Tokoname.

Doing what he loves!

Andrew welcomes Anthony Smith of Willow Bonsai, South Africa to his studio.

​In 2015, with the encouragement of Peter Warren and Akiyama San, Andrew was invited to take part in the 10th Annual Shohachi contest at the Gafu Ten in Kyoto, Japan.

​An incredible honour, especially as non-Japanese were not previously eligable to participated. ​

Not only was Andrew the first non-Japanese artist invited to participate in this world leading contest, but he went on to take gold in the unglazed category! His attention to detail was outstanding, in both the razor sharp lines and relief carvings.

​In so doing, Andrew helped strengthen the bond with Japanese bonsai, and also open the gates for other leading artists across the world to be able enter this prestigious event.

Andrew's glazed Gafu-ten entry. Displaying refined forms and exquisite monochrome glazes.

In 2015 Andrew also decided with friends and fellow well-known potters Tom Benda and Thor Holvila, to meet on a yearly basis at a new location, and produce unique artisanal pieces created as a fusion of three very different styles. The Triskele group was born. 

​Annual meetings took place in different countries, including each artist's home country. Each year, after some inspiration, a theme was decided on, and then the creativity was set free.

Over the years the EBPC purchased quite a few of these great pieces, which proudly remain in the EBPC collection. 

It is a wonder to appreciate Andrew's work within these great pieces, in additional to that of Tom and Thor. This fusion of styles allowed each artist to push their boundaries whilst being altered or embellished by the eye of a fellow artist. 

As a thank you for my support, in 2018 the Triskele group kindly presented a wonderful pot to me in the form of Thor's hammer, 'Mjölnir'. Something I will always treasure and am eternally grateful for. 

​Andrew was also a big fan of studio ceramics, and I was always absorbed when I got the chance to see his collection. ​Especially fascinating to him were the Mashiko style works resulting from the collaboration between Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada in the 1920's, and the great artists this movement has produced since. 

Always very generous with his knowledge, our chats about the intricacies and techniques employed will remain with me, and further encouraged my own captivation and appreciation of yunomi and chawan.

​ On request for yunomi in green, Andrew was kind enough to make these yunomi for my collection, with tactile manipulated and faceted forms and interesting glazes. The bottom right yunomi was also rake fired and has incredible irridenscence, in addition to dents for thumb and forefinger.  

In a professional capacity, Andrew spent 7 years as a paramedic before joining Transport for London in 1998, to which he dedicated the next 26 years. After just 3 years he had become a fire compliance specialist, at which he excelled. A decade later, in 2011, Andrew progressed to Fire Engineer, which he continued to thrive at until his untimely passing.
At the end of January 2025, Andrew was due to retire from his work at the London Underground, to concentrate on his ceramics full time. 

Andrew was very well known in the global bonsai community. He was a multi-award winning artist, and was the feature of a multitude of articles in various magazine and book publications. 

Many bonsai potters, including some of Europe & America's most celebrated, have benefited from the help and words of advice of this great artist. Andrew liked to share his knowledge to the benefit of other artists and to improve bonsai ceramics in general. 

Andrew's legacy will live on, in those touched by his generous nature, in his thousands of exquisite creations, and through his impact on European and global bonsai ceramics.

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​A memorial will be held for Andrew on Saturday 4th January

... A notice from Andrew's wife, Marie:

​A memorial will be held for Andrew on Saturday 4th January, 2025 – 1pm start.
​
     The Community Centre -  Tn126eb
     Maidstone Road, Paddock Wood, Kent.
     
◦            We will be there until 7pm, you are welcome to stay as long as you wish
◦            We have booked the whole centre where is plenty of parking and everyone is welcome.
◦            no dress code, just wear your favourite outfit.
◦          If you'd like to make a gift we're setting up a Justgiving page for donations to The Ambulance Staff Charity.
◦            It's an easy walk from Paddock Wood Train Station.
◦            Please let me know if you intend to come for catering purposes and any dietary requirements.
◦            Also, please let me know if you would like to say something.
◦            Please use this email:                 [email protected]
*Also use this email for any messages, memories and photographs of Andy you wish to share.

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Goodbye my dear friend. Rest in peace. 

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