Alana Rae McDowell
Owner/Studio Manager + Instructor
Alana Rae McDowell is a self-taught ceramic artist from the unceded Syilx Territory/Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. She currently lives and creates in the unceded Sinixt Territory in Nelson, BC.
Alana holds a degree in social work, which informs her approach to teaching and working alongside others. She strives to create spaces where people feel comfortable, supported, and encouraged to grow. She began teaching ceramics in the spring of 2022 and quickly realized it was a direction she wanted to continue pursuing.
Her work explores the transformative and therapeutic nature of clay, using the process of making to translate the stress and anxiety of modern life into bright, playful, and functional objects. She is interested in clay as a material for transformation, both literally and symbolically, and in the ways creative practice can help us reshape, integrate, and make meaning from our experiences.
Alana also uses her work to playfully reject seriousness and mundanity, prioritizing functional pieces that bring delight, humour, and a sense of joyous ritual to everyday life.
As the founder of MUD Ceramics Studio & Shop, Alana is deeply fulfilled by connecting with people through pottery and creating a community space where others can make with their hands, experiment freely, and get muddy.
Amelie Drewitz
Wheel & Hand-building Instructor & Studio Technician
Born in Germany and raised in the forests and mountains of the Kootenays, Amelie Drewitz has always been inspired by the beauty of her surroundings.
Beginning as a self-taught illustrator of two children’s books, she later discovered the fascinating and endless world of ceramics at the Kootenay School of the Arts. Working with clay opened an exciting new chapter, allowing her to bring together storytelling, illustration, and functionality as one.
Today, Amelie teaches ceramics at MUD Ceramics Studio in Nelson, BC, and sells her work through local markets and shops. She enjoys creating unique, functional pieces with whimsical illustrations and lots of colour, inviting people to find a little more joy in the everyday
Amy Robichaud
Wheel Instructor
Amy was born and raised in the suburbs of Ottawa. She studied at Carleton University, and after graduating she set out west to British Columbia to explore the mountains skiing. She eventually settled in Fernie, where she spent several years tree planting in the summers and serving in the winters. It was there that she discovered ceramics at the Fernie Arts Station, and from the moment she touched clay, she was captivated.
Expression through clay is part of Amy’s ongoing pursuit for authenticity. It brings a sense of childlike play into her life…getting messy, having fun, embracing spontaneity and the unexpected. Amy’s approach is playful and unconventional, creating minimal yet bold pieces. She explores the juxtaposition of raw clay against glossy surfaces, revealing the beauty of the process itself.
Amy moved to Nelson to further her love and knowledge of pottery. She recently graduated from the Kootenay School of the Arts ceramics program, and continues making pots in her tiny basement studio. She’s looking forward to joining the team at MUD, and to continue her learning through teaching!
Wren Renaud
Instructor & Studio Technician
Artist bio coming soon.
Alleah Bowring
Instructor & Studio Technician
Alleah Bowring was born and raised in Saskatchewan, where she spent her younger years playing in mud, sand, and even moulding the soft tar between sidewalk cracks warmed by the sun. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be an artist.
That path became clearer in 2018, when Alleah began learning pottery from Ken Wilkinson. She quickly fell in love with both the challenge of clay and the calming, therapeutic rhythm of the wheel. As her interests in art and psychology began to overlap, she went on to complete a double honours degree with high distinction in psychology and studio art.
Her creative practice has explored themes of connection through digital, interactive, and ceramic work, with pieces featured in festivals in Saskatoon and Germany. While completing her master’s in counselling and art therapy, Alleah also worked in pottery studios in Vancouver, continuing to build her ceramics practice alongside her studies.
Teaching has long been part of Alleah’s work, from yoga and gymnastics to ceramics. In the studio, she loves helping people let go of perfection, try something new, and rediscover a sense of play through clay.