Kit (Blair) was born in Greymouth in 1924. She went to Teachers Training College in Christchurch and whilst there attended Canterbury School of Fine Arts (1942 / 1943).

In 1947 she married George Seator who she had met at the Teachers College. They then moved to Kimbolten, in the lower North Island.

In 1950 they went back to the Greymouth region, where Kit joined the Westland Art Society and spent time with Toss Wollaston on painting trips. In 1963 the family (by then Kit and George had three children), moved to Turakina near Whanganui, where George became the headmaster at Turakina School, and Kit was teaching. Six years later they moved to Whanganui, and in 1977 Kit gave up teaching.

In 1969 she began pottery night-classes with Agnes Smith at Boys’ College, Whanganui. When she retired, she became serious about making pots. George converted an old henhouse into a workshop, and they built a diesel fired kiln. Kit’s work focused on the functional, often with floral or plant decoration.
In 1992 they had a new house built close to where they had been living. Kit had a studio purpose built and bought a new gas kiln.

She was a member of the Whanganui Potters Society and served on the committee for many years. In 2010, Kit then in her late 80’s, gave up making pots.

In September this year Kit will turn 100!

Rick Rudd
2024