6 or 12 Week
Hand Building & Decorating Course
Levels
0 & 1
Join our 6 or 12 week hand building and decoration course for an exciting journey into the world of pottery! Each session lasts for 2.5 hours and is limited to just 10 students, ensuring plenty of personalised guidance and support throughout your experience. (16yrs+only)
Workshop Description
Throughout the course, you'll explore a variety of techniques, including pinch pots, slab building, coil construction, and creating textures. You'll also learn about sgraffito, glazing, and using slip to enhance your pieces. Practical, hands-on activities will allow you to develop your skills in hand building pottery, all while fostering your creativity.
The course includes:
Studio set-up & safety: Learn how to safely navigate the pottery studio.
Clay, tools, and equipment: Gain an understanding of the materials you’ll be working with.
Basic hand building techniques: Get comfortable creating unique forms using various methods.
Glazing: Discover the fundamentals of glazing to bring your pieces to life.
Show and tell evening: Conclude the course by showcasing your work and enjoying refreshments with fellow students!
Each 2.5hr session includes 15-20 minutes clean up which is crucial in the pottery world. It ensures students and team members can work in a safe and healthy studio)
If you finish earlier than expected you are welcome to continue working and using the space
Any pots that are kept will be charged at a rate of 10£ per kilo of work (weighed at pick up)
Your completed pieces will be ready for collection within 5-6 weeks, depending on the weather!
You can view our terms of service here.
Course Outline
6-Week Handbuilding & Decorating Course
Our 6-week Handbuilding & Decorating Course offers a guided introduction to ceramic handbuilding and surface decoration. Across the course, you’ll learn a range of techniques to build confidence, develop your skills, and create your own unique ceramic pieces.
Weeks 1–2: Foundations of Handbuilding
Explore the core techniques of handbuilding, including pinch, coil, and slab construction. You’ll learn how to shape forms, add texture, and begin experimenting with simple decorative methods.
Weeks 3–4: Advanced Techniques & Functional Forms
Build on your skills by creating more complex forms, refining details, and combining different techniques. You’ll also experiment with surface decoration, including carving, stamping, and slip decoration.
Weeks 5–6: Personal Projects & Finishing
Put everything you’ve learned into practice by designing and making your own project. With support and individual guidance, you’ll focus on finishing, glazing, and decorating your work to make it personal.
12-Week Handbuilding & Decorating Course
Our 12-week Handbuilding & Decorating Course is an in-depth journey into ceramic handbuilding and surface design. This course is designed to develop your technical skills while giving you space to explore your own creative ideas and complete a final ceramic piece.
LEARN (Weeks 1–4): Foundations of Handbuilding
Begin with the essentials: clay preparation, studio safety, firing cycles, and the core handbuilding techniques of pinch, coil, and slab construction. You’ll also explore surface decoration and carry out glaze testing.
EXPLORE (Weeks 5–7): Advanced Techniques & Functional Forms
Develop a personal ritual-themed project while expanding your skills in texture, decoration, and form-making. This stage includes further experimentation and bisque firing.
IMPLEMENT (Weeks 8–12): Personal Projects & Finishing
Work on designing and completing your final ceramic piece. With support throughout, you’ll bring together your chosen techniques, decoration, and glazing to finish a piece that feels distinctly your own.
Cost
6 Week Hand building and Decorating course
Evening & Weekend Courses: £250 per person for 6 sessions (inc VAT)
12 Week Hand building and Decorating course
Evening & Weekend Courses: £360 per person for 6 sessions (inc VAT)
Any pots that are kept & fired will be charged at a rate of £10 per kilo of work (weighed at pick up)
We also have a Pay It Forward scheme to help make our courses accessible to everyone. If you're able to support this initiative, please consider making a donation via the TIP option at checkout, which helps us provide discounted spots.
We offer one subsidised spot per course at a 20% discount. To apply, please visit our pricing options page.
You can view our refund & rescheduling policy here.
