When deciding which Cape Grace gift shop artist to feature within our foodie theme this month, we struck upon Wendy McLachlan. Her ceramics could be compared to the ornaments you might find at a Mad Hatter’s tea party. She creates ceramic cupcakes and apples, garlic and gold-stemmed pears mingling with protea flowerheads, birds in flight and prickly pears. She affectionately refers to her work as Homebakes.

White ceramic bunnies take centre stage in her creations; one whimsical platter has a rabbit with rather large ears perched on top of a life-size ceramic cabbage fixed to a white platter. It’s a unique, fanciful object with an inexplicable, irresistible desirability.

Wendy says she doesn’t like ceramics that look too precious and fragile. She likes things to be witty and fun.

With a Masters in Fine Arts and having taught art in schools for many years, this is Wendy’s way of expressing herself. She has since found a very appreciative audience. At the Design Indaba last month, she sold out of her large white platters and took orders from interior designers and shop owners. Magazines such as Elle Décor, Visi and House & Leisure all took photos of her stand, so look out for magazine features in the near future.

She points out that many of her pieces have a nostalgic element that reminds people of their childhood. The teapot with a ceramic pearl and knit tea cosy, a replica marmite jar, classic enamelware shapes made from clay and fine cups and saucers are all good examples of this..

Look out for some of her inimitable pieces on display behind the reception at Cape Grace, selected for us by the skilful eye of Jacqui at Imagenius.