Meet Our Teachers

Owner and Master Potter

Noel Yardley is a ceramic artist based in Toronto. He studied at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, graduating in 1998. In his ceramic work. Yardley applies experimental ceramic techniques and pop art culture influences to produce sculptural pieces . He has exhibited work at the Design Indaba (Cape Town), 100% Design (London) and Object en Maison (Paris). Yardley is in private collections in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Berlin, Milan, Virginia and Ontario.  

In Cape Town South Africa, Yardley taught ceramics to teens and adults from 2007 to 2011 at Chrysalis Academy. He went on to become a production ceramicist and educator at Art in Forest from 2013 to 2018.

Yardley teaches at the Toronto School of Art and worked as a studio technician at the Gardner Museum.  Currently, he works with fellow designer, Thomas Bollmann, at their own studio called MaakOst. Located on the East End , they focus on teaching, design and production ceramics.

Pottery Teachers

Quinn Buckler is a ceramic artist and sculptor based in Tkaronto. She studied Sculpture/Installation at OCAD University where she took her first ceramics class and has been working with clay ever since. She has been making and selling ceramic art for seven years and teaching ceramics for one. Primarily a mould-maker and hand-builder, Quinn’s ceramic practice centres around sculptures that explore our bodies' relationship to our local and chemical environments. She works with original, vintage, and commercial ceramic moulds to corrupt and challenge the material culture of ceramic goods.

Her work has been exhibited across cities in Canada and in the homes of private collectors internationally. In 2021 she completed the Plastic Thematic Residency with the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She has worked in private artist’s and institutional studios producing moulds and ceramic editions, and in 2022 worked teaching art and ceramics at a non-profit community art studio supporting individuals experiencing mental illness and addictions in their healing through the arts. She has been working to make, teach, and promote ceramic arts ever since.

Raj Bharaj is a South Asian visual artist based out of Toronto. She is a self-taught ceramicist and explores the medium through songs of her culture and experiences that her body resides in. This has lead to tremendous self-discovery and an artistic expression that comes from curiosity.

After many years of experience, Raj has developed an intuitive understanding of clay, form and texture. She creates sculptural works mainly that blends elements of both non-functionality, and giving each piece a slight advantage of being functional in a small way. 

These days, the artist’s work is very experimental. This is where she feeds her creativity, and she wishes to continue passing on the same access to clay to others through community building workshops.

Tamirah Taylor is an Afro-Caribbean multidisciplinary creative and designer. Tamirah utilizes her years of experience and skills to share her exploration of various mediums. Creating items such as sculptural pieces, dish ware, and original paintings which she shares through her Tasol Home Collection. Tamirah has been working with clay since the age of 8 and got into wheel-thrown pottery since 2022. 

Zoe Tong, originally from Hong Kong, made a bold career change from primary school teaching to ceramics. Starting as an intern in a Hong Kong ceramic studio, she worked her way up to become a full-time ceramics instructor. Now based in Toronto, Zoe teaches ceramic classes for both children and adults, emphasizing the importance of never stopping exploration. Her passion and dedication inspire her students to embrace curiosity and continuously push their artistic boundaries. Zoe's goal is to foster creativity and help others embark on their own artistic journeys in the world of ceramics.

Toronto-based artist and educator, Bita Pejman has been practising art since her graduation with a BA in Arts from OCAD in 2007. Originally trained as a sculpture and installation artist, she developed an interest in ceramics during her first year at OCAD, and since then, her love of the natural elements and their effective movements in her surroundings has served as inspiration for her work with clay and porcelain to create both practical and sculptural works. 

Like many of her contemporary artists, Bita’s artistic endeavour has not been confined to creating sculptural pieces and installations alone. In her drawings and paintings, the fascination with the natural elements is expressed through the drawing of fluid lines, choosing vibrant colours, and creating an image that captures the magical effect of those elements. As a set decorator, Bita has always used creativity in light of her experience as an artist. 

Since graduating from York University with a second BA in teaching in 2013, she has always relied on her artistic talent to share her knowledge and experiences with students, inspiring them to view art as an integral part of their life. 

Bita’s sculpture and installation was featured in 52-steps gallery, OCAD gallery, Bloomer gallery, and mind control in Toronto. A series of her painting and drawing were featured in a group show in ….

Lucy Calvo, a Toronto-based artist originally from the captivating Sicily, spent her childhood fishing and tinkering in her father's garage, harboring dreams of becoming a mechanic. She pursued her art education in Noto, Sicily, before specializing as an environmental technician.

Showing early promise across mediums such as charcoal, graphite, acrylics, and watercolors, Lucy found her true artistic passion in clay art, both indulging in it and sharing its wonders through teaching.

Beyond her artistry, Lucy is a dedicated wife and mother to her son and daughter, and she also channels her passion into martial arts, striving alongside her children to earn a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Her ultimate dream is to settle on a sunny beach, caring for an alpaca farm, while also owning a studio/gallery where she can impart her knowledge and create monumental metal sculptures.

Miles B. Clarke is a visual artist and writer specializing in ceramics. Introduced to the craft in 2022 by a gifted handmade cup, he's since been captivated by its potential. From there, he recreationally explored the medium, before taking a more extensive course with Noël in 2023.

Since then, Miles has engaged in an energy exchange and mentorship with the professional ceramic artists at Noël Yardley Ceramics. With guided leadership and a space for his curiosity, he refines his skills and knowledge. In his work, Miles looks to explore the medium's transformative nature in relation to queer identity and nature. Starting in Fall of 2024, he will attend Sheridan College to further pursue his passion for ceramics in their Honours Bachelor of Craft and Design (Ceramics) program.

Evan Wexler is a multidisciplinary artist who brings experience in a variety of mediums to the craft of ceramics. He has worked for many years as an interactive designer and filmmaker, and he is currently obsessed with developing interesting pottery forms using a mix of wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques.

Evan is also interested in practical chemistry, and has been known to make ceramic buttons, from time to time, in order to test glaze recipes