Toni Zientek, a retired teacher and model maker, is exhibiting his ceramic boats, buses, cars, and railway engines at Macclesfield Town Hall from October 8 to 15 as part of Art Fair Cheshire. The event holds deep personal significance for Toni, as his late wife Pauline, who passed away in 2019 at age 72, will not be there to share the moment. The fair benefits East Cheshire Hospice, which provided care for Pauline during her final illness.
A Legacy of Craftsmanship
Toni's talent for craftsmanship was inherited from his father Janek, a Polish Air Force pilot who fled his homeland in 1939 and later piloted Wellington bombers for coastal command in Britain. After the war, Janek became a tool maker, passing his skills to Toni. "He made toys for me, including a fantastic scooter, and taught me how to do things," Toni recalled. Janek's tools remain in Toni's possession.
Toni's love for art, particularly ceramics, began at Madeley College, where he met Pauline, who later became a junior schoolteacher. He eventually became head of art at Bramhall High School, finishing his career as exams officer. His passion for ceramic caricatures of transport modes developed in his home workshop, where he now produces studio ceramics and intricate scaled models using drawings, pictures, and natural instinct.
Commissioned Work and Unique Craft
Vehicle manufacturers, including Leyland Trucks, have commissioned Toni to create personalised pottery for fleet buyers. He is believed to be the UK's only specialist maker of transport models, and he regularly receives requests for customised products. His work can be viewed at www.potterytransportcreations.co.uk.
Toni looks forward to displaying his pottery at the Art Fair, especially as a percentage of sales will be donated to East Cheshire Hospice. He also makes monthly donations towards materials for the hospice's art therapy unit and has a leaf dedicated to Pauline on a Memory Tree. Pauline died four days after the couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. The grandmother of three had been in the hospice for three weeks, initially supported by its Hospice at Home service.
A Tribute to Pauline
"When I first called them, two cars and four nurses arrived within 20 minutes and immediately eased the pressure on me," Toni said. "The family were very happy with the care they, and especially Pauline, received."
Art Fair Cheshire runs from October 8 to 15 at Macclesfield Town Hall. For more information, visit www.theartfair.org.uk.
