He has exhibited throughout New Zealand, including the reputable Lopdell House — an arts and culture facility in Titirangi, Auckland.
As one local describes May, “He’s a bit of a legend, that fella”.
Another childhood pastime was rolling clay marbles at school — a hobby that came about by testing farm soil.
“I would fire them up in the kitchen fireplace — it was my job to clear the ashes at the end of the week. Some marbles survived and some didn’t,” he laughed.
Seymour moved to the Gisborne area in 1963, buying his own dairy farm, and then supplied milk to the town for over 20 years.
It wasn’t until his wife Helen entered the picture that he attempted to use the potter’s wheel. Helen May operates a dressmaking studio at their Clifford Street property — something she has done for the past 60 years. However, she was a bit of a self-described tomboy when she was growing up.
“I disliked the pretty things.”
Her childhood home — where the couple reside today — was an idyllic place for a child to explore. As a young girl, Helen could be found fishing, catching eels on the Waimatā River or sliding down the steep banks at the back of the property.
At the age of 15, Helen found herself at a crossroads, however. While she wanted to become a hairdresser, her mother, Hilda — a beautiful sewer, artist and potter — didn’t think hairdressing was a suitable vocation at the time. So Hilda offered Helen five pounds to go back to school.
“I can make more money than that working,” responded Helen. Hilda then marched down to Paulette Patterns — a pattern-making factory on Gladstone Road — and secured her rebellious daughter a job.
It was 1956 when Helen began her working life, learning how to grade patterns (cutting to size), and create and construct them.
“I have a passion for patterns – just love them!” she says. That passion has endured, and today she has a pattern-lending library of thousands, charging just $1 a week.
When Helen was 17, a friend asked her to make bridesmaid dresses. Those dresses were a huge success and Helen’s career as a dressmaker took off.
“I hate getting out of bed in the morning, but once I am up, I can’t wait to start work. How many people can say that after doing the same job for 60 years?”
She has a small fabric store in the front room, with new rolls and offcuts making a regular appearance. Haberdashery fills the adjoining sewing room. “I love to dress women in made-to-measure garments and make them look beautiful.”
It was the old coffee dance hall upstairs from Club 44 where Helen first encountered her husband-to-be, Seymour.
“He threw something at me, so I retaliated and threw something back,” she laughs. Married in 1965, they have four daughters. Continuing the creative gene, Sheryl May is a well-known Kiwi fashion designer with her own label. Another daughter, Amanda Laidlaw May, runs Bird of Prey Jewellery which produces handmade bohemian jewellery.
Valentine Nalder, Helen’s dad, “wasn’t into school too much — he played the wag quite a lot, but he ended up chief inspector of Poverty Bay Electric Power Board. Dad made up a pottery wheel one day — out of an old gramophone turntable”. It was that same wheel Seymour first decided to experiment on with ceramics.
“I started turning pots with a knife, until I watched Toby Stafford in Gizzy throwing clay and making bowls, and I thought ‘Well, that’s something new’,” Seymour said.
He likes to work and interact with other potters, finding the diversity adds to his own unique style; “otherwise you can get into a single frame of mind”.
Seymour joined the Gisborne Artists Society at Lysnar House, situated behind Tairāwhiti Museum. He previously taught at the Polytech and continues to teach groups and individuals who want to advance their skills, or beginners starting out. He is currently making small decorative pots for Hauora Tairāwhiti.
A combined piece of art, incorporating the talent of fellow potter Baye Riddell, stands out among teapots, decorative urns, cups and bowls in his jam-packed studio. Seymour likes to constantly try new shades; “mandarin” is just one of the fresh colours on display. He says patterns, shades and shapes “can become eye-catching, especially when you mix them”.
A hand-built lift, courtesy of his brother-in-law, moves fragile items up and down the steep garden staircase, which leads to the kiln room. A line of mauve and turquoise mugs, pitchers and a Christmas cake “crock” are waiting for the firing process.
Old railway tracks steer the new products into the kiln.
Along the path, Seymour’s work of garden ornaments can be spotted — native birds climb trees and seagulls perch on the fence line, while lifelike ceramic penguins keep a watchful eye at the front door.
A self-described fabric-aholic, Helen says she intends “to be doing this for another 25 years!”. Meanwhile, Seymour says he never runs out of ideas — often coming up with new designs while still working on current ones.
■ Mayfire Pottery is open every day from 9am-5pm, while Individual Dressmaker is open 7 days a week from 10am – 5pm, but is closed on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. The couple can be found at 17 Clifford Street.
