5 weeks Saturday sessions *ALL LEVELS

A flexible short course for anyone who wants to learn a little more about pottery. Please note that this is not a wheel-focused course, and access to the pottery wheel will be limited.

Beginners will start by trying a few varieties of clay to learn their different characteristics. You will learn varied shaping methods each week and a bit about surface decoration using sculpting tools, found objects and decorating slips. Before the last session all the pieces you decide to keep will be bisque fired. In the last session, you will glaze them using our ’safe’ glazes (which are less likely to cause problems in the last firing): transparent, shiny white, matt white, shiny brown, shiny blue, satin green.

If you are more advanced, please talk to the teacher as this course is open and flexible so that we meet the individual’s interest and skills. We can show you how to throw taller, bigger, more precisely or/and in multiples.

The material and firing costs are not included in the course fee. If you would like to keep any of your pieces, the charge for this is calculated on the weight (65p per 100g of soft paste clay) and space that takes up in the kiln.

The course runs for 2.5 hrs between 1030 and 1300 on Saturday, for 5 weeks.

10 weeks throwing course *ALL LEVELS

This course mainly focuses on the skills you need to acquire to throw on the potter’s wheel.

You will learn the basic and very important wedging and centring skills, first. You will learn how to throw simple shapes such as cylinders and bowls, and also to make them into mugs and cups, how to pull handles. We will also show how to create textures and apply surface decorations using found objects, sculpting tools and decorating slips etc.

When we feel you’re confident and have good skills to manage clay on the wheel we are happy to teach other shapes such as closed shape, plate and more advanced skills.

On the last day of the course you will be glazing everything you decided to keep. You can use any glazes we have in the studio. The glazed work should be fired within a week or a month depending on our firing schedule.

The material and firing costs are not included in the course fee. If you would like to keep any of your pieces, the charge for this is calculated on the weight (55p per 100g of soft paste clay) and space that takes up in the kiln.

These courses run once a week from 1830 to 2100 and are available on weekday evenings.

Nerikomi Workshop ALL LEVEL

Nerikomi, or Neriage is a technique to create interesting pottery surfaces by combining multiple clays/coloured clays. The basic idea of the technique is the same with agateware and marbled ware; we create patterns in the clay body. In Japan, we have developed it further to create geometric patterns, floral motifs and cartoon characters etc etc.

Our class/course will give you an insight into the pattern making process in this Japanese technique. You will learn the basic rules, tips and tricks in manipulating clay and the basics of designing patterns while playing with colours and patterns.

You will form the Nerikomi slabs into simple shapes such as plates and bowls, and we will finish the rest. Your work will be ready for collection in about a month, and a shipping option can be arranged with an additional cost.

The course fee covers all the material and firing fee up to 2kg.

We run a one-day class or in a series of sessions. The longer course will give you more opportunity to understand and improvise the technique.

We hope to host a class/course on this technique regularly. Check its availability from the button below. If none is available, sign up to our waiting list to receive news and updates on new classes. Also, please keep an eye on our announcements on Instagram.

Kintsugi Classes

Kintsugi, also known as "golden joinery," is a revered Japanese technique for repairing broken pottery. Originating in the 15th century, this art form embraces the philosophy of wabi-sabi, which celebrates imperfections and the beauty of the broken.

In this course, taught by Mizuyo, you will learn the traditional method of repairing pottery using urushi, a natural lacquer (without synthetic materials such as glue, epoxy nor putty). Over the course of four sessions, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of kintsugi and gain hands-on experience in fixing pottery with urushi.

The beginners' class focuses on simple repairs, including fixing clean cracks, chips, and hairline cracks. Through step-by-step guidance, Mizuyo will teach you the techniques of preparing and applying urushi, joining broken pieces, and covering the breakages with gold. You will also explore the aesthetic aspect of kintsugi, learning how to create beautiful golden seams that accentuate the pottery's history and character.

We offer this course both in person and online, providing you with flexible options to explore the art of kintsugi. The in-person workshop takes place in our studio during the summer season (May to September). The course is designed to ensure an immersive and interactive learning experience, allowing you to interact directly with Mizuyo and receive personalized guidance.

For those unable to attend in person, we offer the online course, providing access to instructional videos, materials, and a supportive communication via emails. The online workshop (a 4-session course via Zoom) is available from www.mizuyo.com. To register your interest please go to her website.

For the in-person workshop, please join our mailing list. The workshop (a 4-session course) runs during summer (sometime between May and September) in our studio and the course will become available from this website.

* Please note that the objects will not go in the microwave, dishwasher nor oven after kintsugi repair.