Hand Building and Sculpture Classes and Workshops

Hand building is all about making items with your hands rather than the wheel.
There are various techniques used in the making process.
Our sessions are designed for both accomplished potters, beginners looking for a new hobby and improvers.
Potters have been building with clay since at least 5500BC. It’s perfect in the modern day for taking a relaxing mind break and engaging with creativity.
There are many different making methods to consider when hand building. From coiling to slab building and pinching we will work with you to show you the ropes and support you in your chosen projects.
A potter at the wheel, just finished centering their clay

Thursday Evening Hand Builders

Perfect for beginners and experienced potters

Thursdays 7pm-9pm

£30

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An elephant being sculpted from clay by hand

Sunday Morning Hand Builders

Perfect for beginners and experienced potters

Sundays 9am-11am

£30

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An elephant being sculpted from clay by hand

Open Access Hand Builders

From 1 to 8 hours
Anytime Monday – Saturday
subject to availability
Unlimited clay
£12 per hour
£50 day rate

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A potter at the wheel, just finished centering their clay

Crank Clay Sculpture Day

Perfect for beginners and more experienced potters
Solid Sculpture using specialist clay

10am-4pm

£96

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An elephant being sculpted from clay by hand

Monday Evening Hand Builders

Perfect for beginners and experienced potters

Mondays 6pm-8pm

£30

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An elephant being sculpted from clay by hand

Sunday Morning Project Makes 

Ready for all Seasons
Perfect for potters who like step by step instruction
No experience necessary
Often with a seasonal theme our Sunday morning makes are very popular.
Sunday 11.30am-1.30pm

Jars full of tools used in the pottery studio
A happy male holding a pot he just threw on the wheel
A hand built sculpture

Crank clay days

Crank offer a unique opportunity for solid sculpture which makes it perfect for beginners alongside our more experienced mud slingers.

We use Potclays Original Craft Crank for this event. We think this is the best of the crank clays offering unique properties for this type of sculpture.

Our relaxed crank clay days run from 10-4. Bring a packed lunch and enjoy the studio facilities.

Becky Strefford offers expert guidance to potters with top tips to transform 2D images into a 3D sculpture.

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Thursday Evening Hand Builders

Our evening class is a relaxed session. Potters explore their own creativity under the guidance of Rebecca Strefford. Relaxed fun is the theme for Thursday evenings. Whether sculpting, coiling, slabbing or pinching, try out new textures and decorative effects. Potters can explore clay for their own development and share experiences. For beginners hand building is a great pace to start in understanding the properties and nature of clay. Potters can move between our throwing and hand building facilities. Membership options are available for this session Firing allowance of 300g per session. Additional firing is charged at our current rates Unlimited use of house clays (KGM, Terracotta, Millenium White) Unlimited use of slips, underglazes and transparent glazes. We have a good stock of Amaco and Mayco cone 5/6 glazes available for purchase in the gallery.
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4-Week Intermediate Wheel Throwing Pottery Course

Our Intermediate courses are designed for potters who have undertaken a 6-week beginners course and are looking for structured development and challenges.   They are also suitable for potters stuck in a throwing rut.
 
We have a real focus on the importance of centring and opening up where required. You will throw with larger amounts of clay, try different types of clay and new challenges.  We’ll encourage you to cut work for closer examination of what is happening and a focus on the quality of your making.
 
Unlimited clay and slip for decoration.
Expert tuition
Glazing and firing included. 
2 hours studio time each session. Clean up takes around 20 minutes so plan this in your timings.
 
‘It’s great to throw something that is useful, and you actually use at home. I love to use this bowl in the kitchen.’
Kitchen pouring bowl
Bowl Making - Course

Thursday Evening Throwers

Our evening class is a melting pot of creativity and experiments. Relaxed fun is the theme for Thursday evenings. Who doesn’t love an experiment!

Whether it’s mixing your own exciting glaze recipe or trying a new technique we’re all curious to see the outcome.

Potters move between our throwing and hand building facilities.

This session can be utilised for our flexi 6-week beginners throwing course

Membership options are available for this session

Firing allowance of 300g per session. Additional firing is charged at our current rates

Unlimited clay (KGM, Terracotta, Millenium White)

Unlimited use of slips, underglazes and transparent glazes. We have a good stock of Amaco and Mayco cone 5/6 glazes available for purchase in the gallery.

Book Now

Thursday Morning Throwers

Join us for Thursday morning Throwers! Break the week with some clay therapy. Whether you are a beginner or an improver this is a fun, relaxed throwing session. Share your experience, get additional support, request demonstrations, develop your skills and experience or work on a project.

Our Thursday morning throwing time is for you.

This session can be utilised for our flexi 6-week beginners throwing course.

Membership options are available for this session.

Firing allowance of 300g per session. Additional firing is charged at our current rates.

Unlimited clay (KGM, Terracotta, Millenium White).

Unlimited use of slips, underglazes and transparent glazes. We have a good stock of Amaco and Mayco cone 5/6 glazes available for purchase in the gallery.

Book Now

Relaxed Sunday Morning Throwers

What a great way to start your Sunday mornings! Whether you are a beginner or an improver this is a relaxed throwing session. Share your experience, get additional support, request demonstrations, develop your skills and experience or work on a project. Our Sunday morning throwing time is for you. This session can be utilised for our flexi 6-week beginners throwing course. Membership options are available for this session Firing allowance of 300g per session. Additional firing is charged at our current rates Unlimited clay use (KGM, Terracotta, Millenium White)
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Family & Group Parties

Our family and group throwing parties are for everyone and designed for fun. Whether it is a celebration or a relaxing afternoon with a friend we can cater for your needs.

For groups of 2-12. Your group will have our undivided attention.

We’ll show you how to centre, open up and get height into your pot.

You’ll chose your favourite pot which we will glaze and fire.

Unlimited clay
Expert tuition
Glazing and firing included
Free refreshments – we have kitchen facilities for you to bring your own celebratory cakes.
2 hours studio time. Clean up takes around 20 minutes so please allow for this in your planning.

TO BOOK email: [email protected]

‘We had so much fun, and you were so patient. Thank you!’

Open Access Throwing

Whether you are on one of our courses, self-learning, would like to practice your skills or are working on a project, our open access time is for you.

Potters can access the studio at times to suit. Sessions include unlimited KGM, Terracotta or Millenium white clay.

Firing is charged separately for any work that you wish to keep (see our firing charges)

Potters using open access facilities must have undertaken an induction and have knowledge of clay preparation and basic throwing skills

Free induction to the studio

Unlimited clay use (KGM, Terracotta, Millenium White)

‘This is such a great facility with the flexibility for me to develop my practice when I can fit around my own commitments. It works around me. I can grow at my own pace and there are some great resources in the R&R room’

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Beginners Flexi 6-Week Wheel Throwing Mug Making Course

Our flexi 6-week beginners workshop is designed for potters who cannot commit to 6 consecutive weeks. We’ll give you the same course programme but work through it when you can attend sessions. We are flexible to work around the dates when you can attend our Sunday and Thursday sessions.

A skilled packed course taking potters though the fundamentals of clay preparation, centring, opening up, getting height, knuckling up, linear pulled handles and slip decoration.

The course goal is to make 4 slip decorated mugs.

Our aim is to teach you how to be self-sufficient as a potter for your onward development and progression.

Unlimited clay and slip for decoration.
Expert tuition
Glazing and firing included. We will glaze and fire your decorated mugs

2 hours studio time each session. Clean up takes around 20 minutes so plan this in your timings.

‘Throwing is such an immersive experience – the worries of the world disappear’

‘The flexibility of this course has been great. I’ve finished my course but now have the confidence to go to the studio when I can as an open access thrower. I’m always welcomed’

Course Outline
Contact Us To Book

Beginners 6-Week Wheel Throwing Mug Making Course

Our 6-week beginners workshop is a skilled packed course taking potters though the fundamentals of clay preparation, centring, opening up, pulling height, knuckling up, linear pulled handles and slip decoration.

The course goal is to make 4 slip decorated mugs.

Our aim is to teach you how to be self-sufficient as a potter for your onward development and progression.

This course is a great introduction if you are thinking about pottery as a longer-term hobby.

Unlimited clay and slips for decoration
Expert tuition
Demonstrations
Glazing and firing included. We will glaze and fire your decorated mugs.

2 hours studio time each week. Clean up takes around 20 minutes so plan this in your timings.

“It’s great that by the end of this course you are self-sufficient. Cathy and Nick teach you how to prepare your clay. This is an invaluable lesson – there are no mysteries – I’m ready to work on my own”

Course Outline
Book Thursday 10am-12pm
Book Sunday 12pm-2pm
Book Sunday 3pm-5pm
Book Monday 6pm-8pm

Wheel Throwing Taster Workshops

Our throwing workshops are designed for newbies to give you a taste of throwing on the wheel.

You may be looking for a one-off experience or would like to see if you would enjoy throwing before booking on a course or self-learning.

We look at the fundamentals of centring, opening up and pulling height into your pot. We’ll explain why preparing your clay is so important to the throwing process to get the best outcome.

You’ll chose your favourite pot which we will glaze and fire.

Unlimited clay
Expert step by step tuition
Demonstrations
Glazing and firing included

2 hours studio time. Clean up takes around 20 minutes so please allow for this in your planning.

‘I’m drained after that…drained of a lot of stress 😊’

Book Tuesday 6pm-8pm
Book Thursday 10am-12pm
Book Friday 10am-12pm
Book Friday 2pm-4pm
Book Sunday 3pm-5pm