Local jewellery designer, Alice Potter, remembered as ’everyone’s friend’

Alice’s identical twin will remember her sister as a “riot of colour”, and is honoured to be mistaken for her. Read the heartwarming tributes from friends and family.

Alice Potter, July 27, 1983 – October 31, 2022. Picture: Supplied

Highly-regarded Adelaide jewellery designer and artist Alice Elizabeth Potter, who passed away late last month, is being remembered as “goofy” and “a riot of colour” by her family and friends.

Her identical twin sister, Lucy Agnes Potter, called Alice “the outgoing one” who “made bold statements of her individuality”.

“She had an energy I could never match, nor would I have wanted to, as it was what made her so unique,” Ms Potter said.

Ms Potter spoke of always being mistaken for Alice which she says is “a very normal thing about being an identical twin”.

“If you did correct them, people are often apologetic for mixing you up, but when you love your twin as much as Alice and I do, my thought was … well why wouldn’t I want to be mistaken for such a shining star?”

Alice Potter was best known for her work as an artist, working on public and private jewellery commissions and teaching.

She taught jewellery courses at UniSA, children’s art workshops through Carclew Youth Art’s Pom-Pom program, community run classes in JamFactory’s Metal Studio, as well as giving bespoke workshops and artist talks within South Australian art and culture institutions.

Alice is the daughter of radio personality Tim Potter.

“Shining star” Alice Potter is remembered by her family and friends. Picture: Supplied

Alice’s older sister Kate Potter will never forget her little sister’s hugs.

“When she hugged you she closed her eyes and breathed you in, she put everything into the hug.

“It was important to her to really embrace, not just hug,” she said.

Daniel Cadwallader, a fellow artist and friend, said “you never forget meeting Alice Potter”.

She “had creativity pouring out of her – endlessly”.

“I never knew her to have creative blocks – sort of in the same way that kids will draw with an awesome confidence, where every line is intentional and without inhibition, she would make, and she was prolific in her making,” he said.

“She was always the giver of energy, not the taker.”

Mr Cadwallader said Alice lived life with “a natural intensity we were so lucky to be a part of”.

Alice "had creativity pouring out of her". Picture: Supplied

Alice’s professional jewellery mentor Julie Blyfield remembers the artist as having an “open and gregarious personality”.

“Alice’s jewellery impacted so many people’s lives.

“We are all connected to Alice as we wear and cherish her pieces,” she said.

Experiencing the world through synaesthesia, Alice’s sensory pathways would cross, meaning she experienced the world with “heightened colour”.

It seemed Alice was destined to be an amazing artist.

Throughout her childhood she was always creating with any material she had on hand.

She studied graphic design and jewellery design and completed a masters.

A highly-regarded jewellery designer, Alice was also fond of creating textiles and painting.

A prominent member of Adelaide’s creative community, Alice had friends stretching back to preschool, Highgate Primary, Unley High, Unley Youth Theatre, as well as friendships forged in adulthood at TAFE, UniSA and the JamFactory.

She was a “mini-celebrity” from the day she was born, her father said. Picture: Supplied

At the time of Alice and Lucy’s birth, their father Tim Potter – who was a radio announcer at the time – announced the news of the birth with glee.

Alice was a “mini-celebrity” from the day she was born, he said.

After learning her mum was having two babies at once, older sister Kate asked if she could have one for herself.

Alice is survived by two of the “most beautiful, wonderful” children, Mabel and Stella, who are described as “Alice’s greatest loves”.

Alice was born on July 27, 1983.

She passed away at October 31, 2022.

Family and friends gathered at the Gardens of Carrick Hill at Springfield on Tuesday, November 15 to celebrate Alice.

Guests wore colours and in lieu of flowers made a donation in Alice’s memory to Trees for Life SA and the Black Dog Institute.

Daughter to Tim and Elizabeth, sister to Kate and twin Lucy, stepdaughter to Kate and Mark and stepsister to Andrew, Peter and Duncan, Alice will be remembered.