Drop In Monday Evening Sessions for Improvers

Every Monday evening

5:30 - 9:00

£25.00 per session

additional cost

£7 per kg of fired terracotta

£8 per kg of fired ES5 Professional White Earthstone

If you would like to sign up for a drop-in session, please get in touch with me directly. I will ask you to share a few simple photos of your previous work so I can make sure the sessions are the right fit and that you will benefit from working in this format. Once you are approved to join, I will provide you with a password to access the booking page, where you can reserve your place as you go.

Please note that you will be required to book a minimum of two sessions each month in order to keep your place and to continue making steady progress in your practice.

Drop-in ceramic sessions take place every Monday from 5:30 to 9:00 pm, with wrap-up beginning at 8:45. These sessions are designed for people who already have some knowledge of handbuilding techniques: pinching, coiling, slab building, using decorative slips, or applying oxide washes, and glazing their own work. Please note that these sessions do not involve throwing on the potter’s wheel, as the focus is entirely on handbuilding. You will have your own bench to work on.

The sessions are most suitable for improvers, those who have completed a beginners’ course and now want to build confidence while still working with technical supervision. You will need to be comfortable working semi-independently, as no demonstrations are provided. You are expected to arrive with a project idea in mind, such as making pinched cups with handles or building a coiled vessel, etc…

Spaces are limited to six participants. I keep the group small so that everyone has focused support and enough time for guidance and it’s an enjoyable experience for all.

In the studio, you will work with one of two clays: lightly grogged terracotta, which is excellent for handbuilding and slip decoration, or ES5 Professional White Earthstone, a versatile clay that fires to a warm off-white and works beautifully with slips and oxides. Alongside these clays, you will have access to 20 contemporary slip colours, 10 oxide washes, and two food-safe transparent glazes: a shiny glaze that enhances slip decoration and a semi-matt glaze that brings out oxides and creates soft matt finishes. You will glaze your own pieces, while I take care of kiln loading and firing. All work is fired to 1185°C, a sustainable mid-range temperature that vitrifies both clays, conserves energy, and is kinder to the kiln. Aprons and hand tools are provided for use during your session.

Only materials provided in the studio may be used. You may not bring your own clay, slips, or glazes, although commercial underglazes can be used with prior approval. Only work made during studio sessions will be fired, and I do not offer a firing service for outside work. Storage is limited to pieces in progress for up to four weeks, and all finished pieces must be collected promptly. Completed and fired work is charged at £7 per kilogram for terracotta and £8 per kilogram for ES5 white clay.

To make the most of your sessions, preparation before arrival is important. Come with a clear idea of what you want to make and, if possible, use a sketchbook or prepare templates at home to maximise your making time. Be realistic about what you can achieve in a single session and plan for projects that may take several visits. You are responsible for your project from start to finish, including preparing clay, making, decorating, and glazing. Kilns are fired only when full, at a single firing temperature.

On arrival, you are welcome to discuss your ideas with me before starting. Once you begin, you will have three hours for independent making, with my technical advice available if needed. Start by preparing and kneading your clay, then continue your project at your own pace. Clean-up begins ten minutes before the end of the session.

When planning your projects, keep in mind the natural rhythm of ceramics. It is often best to work on more than one piece at a time so that you always have something ready to continue while another piece is drying. For the best results, plan early if you are making pieces for specific occasions (e.g. gifts), and remember that practice and patience are key to developing more ambitious projects.

Please also be aware of restrictions: large-scale works cannot be accommodated, with a maximum size of 35 cm in width or length and 30 cm in height. Production making or creating full sets within a single session is not permitted.