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Robin Hopper was born just prior to the Second World War in 1939, and grew up in London, England. He trained at Croydon College of Art from 1956 to 1961 and emigrated to Canada with his family in 1968. After teaching for two years at Central Technical School in Toronto, he moved to Barrie, Ontario, where he was responsible for starting up and heading the Ceramics and Glass Department at Georgian College. He resigned from his post in 1972 to devote his full energy to his ceramics work. Along with four assistants, Hopper produced a considerable volume of repeat functional production pieces, as well as one-of-a-kind works for exhibition and gallery sales; most of his work at the time was in porcelain, both reduction and oxidation-fired.

Hopper relocated to Vancouver Island, B.C., in 1977, and set up Chosin Pottery, a studio-business which he set up with his wife, Judy Dyelle. That same year, he was the first recipient of the Saidye Bronfman Award, Canada’s most prestigious annual award in the crafts. He has taught throughout Canada, and in England, USA, Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, Japan and Israel. His works can also be found in numerous public, corporate and private collections throughout the world.

Hopper is an honorary member of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, and the author of several books, including The Ceramic Spectrum and Functional Pottery, as well as videos. He is also the Founding President Emeritus of the Metchosin International Summer School of Arts, dedicated to bringing internationally acclaimed artists to lead workshops.