A New Life: Patricia Weston talks to a former dentist who was determined to use her hands in a more rewarding way
When Vicki Sutherland turned 40 years of age she discovered that some people she knew died prematurely in their 40s. This morbid realisation acted as a catalyst, prompting her to think about changing career.
She realised that life was too short and precious to remain in a profession she knew would eventually become too stressful. "In the end it was clear to me that to continue in my current profession would have become drudgery with time and I hated to think of such an existence continuing for the rest of my life," she says.
Vicki gave up her profession as a dentist and became a potter. "I gradually came to my decision over the course of approximately one year. My husband and family were very supportive and encouraging during that time. Many people thought, and probably still think, I was mad to give up such a successful, professional job and to try to take on something so completely different, that had been but a hobby to date," she says.
She had worked as a dentist for 19 years in her native New Zealand, in the UK and when she took up residence in Ireland in 1986.
Vicki enjoyed being a dentist and loved working with people but it had its disadvantages. "I loved my job. I found it very challenging and really enjoyed the interaction with my patients and the interesting, detailed work but I had no spare time to do things for myself," she says.
She found her interest in her job began to wane. "I think you have to really really want to do something and I was beginning to find it harder to enjoy work," she says.
She also began to resent the lack of time she had for her family. "Not long after my third daughter was born, I began to find that there existed an imbalance between dentistry, which can be intensive and at times stressful, and my family and home and time for myself," she says.
Vicki's decision to quit working with hard tooth enamel and mould soft pliable clay instead stemmed from her innate creativity. "I thought I would like to be doing something more creative," she says.
Contrary to what people might think, dentistry is a creative profession.
According to Vicki, "dentists use their hands a lot, there is a lot of fine detailed work involved. If a tooth is broken you have to build it up so it works functionally as a tooth. Also, a lot of time is needed to make dentures."
But working with teeth wasn't creative enough for Vicki so she delved into her love of ceramics.
"I love to be able to take a raw material like a lump of clay, throw it on the potter's wheel and create something beautiful which is also useful. To drink tea from a cup which has been crafted by hand and not by machine, there is no comparison," she says.
As a student dentist in New Zealand, Vicki developed a keen interest in collecting ceramics. "Ceramics in New Zealand in the 1970s was a very strong movement. Handmade ceramics were sold in galleries and shops throughout the country and were used in most homes. I became a devotee and even as an oft financially challenged university student bought small pieces that I fell in love with," she says.
She attended pottery classes at night while at university. "I attended my first night class in pottery techniques in 1981, the year after my dental graduation, and was immediately hooked.
"Thereafter in New Zealand, the UK and in Ireland I sought out evening classes to pursue this interest. In Ireland I studied with one of the founding fathers of Irish ceramics, the late Peter Brennan, and in later years his wife Helena," she says.
Nowadays Vicki divides her time between being a mother, wife and potter. She works from home where she converted the garage into a pottery studio.
"Working at home is ideal because I can fit in with the family but it can also be difficult so I joined the Craft Potters Society of Ireland so I could make contact with other potters," she says.
As secretary of the Craft Potters Society of Ireland, Vicki is very much involved in the pottery scene in Ireland.
"This group was set up in 1977 by a group of mostly Dublin-based potters. Their aim was to form a society of like-minded people comprising potters, sculptors, artists, students and ceramic artists to share and promote their love of clay in all its forms.
"This voluntary job provides many challenges and has been very rewarding.
"Getting to know so many new people involved in ceramic production has given me huge encouragement to explore new ways of working with clay," she says. Vicki believes changing career is no longer such an impossible dream. "At times it seems I decided rather late in life to do such an about change. There is so much to learn but it is exciting and it feels great. It's often too easy to stay with something that is familiar but not satisfying.
"Nowadays, people do change careers and don't feel obliged to stick with the same career for life," she says.
"I have no regrets about my decision. I am so much happier and that is something which benefits not only myself but my family also. And I would not consider going back to dentistry - that's looking back and I'm moving forward, with a new spring in my step," she adds.