​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. 

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. 
​

​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.

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. 

​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. 

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.

​

​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.

Goodbye my dear friend. Rest in peace. 

Pictured above is the plaque recording and celebrating all of the stamps and signatures used by Andrew Pearson of Stone Monkey Ceramics throughout his career. Currently the only such plaque in existence, Andrew kindly produced this for the EBPC to be used for pot displays and it can be seen above in the company of plaques by Japanese greats - Gyouzan, Bigei, Reiho, and Kakuzan. 

Revered across the bonsai world, Stone Monkey Ceramics comprehends and is conscious of the the tree-pot marriage and produces excellent designs, in a variety of forms and finishes that suit trees impeccably. As the first Westener to have been invited to participate in the world's leading bonsai exhibition and small pot contest, 'The Gafu-ten', (which he won first place in the unglazed section!!) we thought it fitting to have such a plaque made by Andrew - the first by a European potter as far as we know. 

The EBPC are proud to support such artists, and we are very excited to be able to offer a range of 20 exclusive pots by this leading artist - COMING VERY SOON! 

Thank you for supporting the EBPC and great European bonsai ceramics. 

The bonsai workshop was busy again, and some great trees were worked on over the two days. A variety of games and raffles were also arranged, with many local businesses around Ashford kindly donating raffle prizes. In addition to raising money for a great cause, a fun weekend was had by all. 

The EBPC is very excited to offer for sale the 'Raku Series' from Stone Monkey Ceramics. 
Dual stamped with the EBPC stamp together with the Stone Monkey Ceramics mark, these superb pots come in a wonderful variety of forms and colours!

Raku is a Japanese technique of firing ceramics such as 'chawan' tea bowls. Rather than placing the ceramics in a cool kiln, raku ware goes straight into a hot kiln for a time, and then are cooled rapidly. Raku pots are cooked to around 1000 degrees centigrade, which is lower than stoneware, and as such they do not reach the heat required to 'vitrify' or make them 'frost proof'. They are however superb, useable bonsai or accent pots and the flames and extreme changes in temperature offer some quite stunning results. These were fired in a kiln belonging to a  friend of Andrew, as his new studio and kilns are being built. 

Please see the online store for the selection. 

A little about the pots and the potter's inspirations for them...

Thor Holvila - 'Temple'. ​

​ ... After a few days we journeyed up into the mountains and the log cabin. The inspiration for this pot with its primitive carvings is inspired by the old buildings standing on the slopes of the Älvdalen valley.

​The atmosphere in Thor's studio in Goteborg was full of inspiration from the very beginning. My muse made me remember that I've made a few simple pots from one single piece of clay, but still having everything that a bonsai pot needs - walls, bottom with drainage/and wire holes and feet. This time I just had to aim a bit higher again 😉
"One piece of clay" was a redline bounding most of the pots I made during the wonderful Triskele meeting vol.1 - Sweden 😀

The launch of the sale will be at Bonsai Europa on 7th October, however they will also be available online on that day also. If you are interested in purchasing one of these unique pieces of history, please email Alex at the EBPC to be added to the list. We will contact you again before the pots are sold. 

To read about the first set produced last year, please click here.