About The Shire Workshops

Bob & Joe Stafford

At The Shire Workshops, we aim to have great fun using fantastical ideas and exploring infinite combinations of shapes, patterns and colours, just as nature has done.

We believe that all artistic expression is joyful, therapeutic and enriching. That it should be encouraged in all ages, and be a vital part of all our lives.

When you visit us at The Shire Workshops, you can immerse yourself in creative activities, use your imagination and realise your ideas. You can explore materials and techniques for a purpose and for fun. You can join others in a community of creativity or sit by yourself and create. Indulge your creative desires in Clay, Sculpey and Pal Tiya Premium.

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Classes at The Shire Workshops

An oasis of creativity

The Shire Workshops offers a range of creative classes and workshops for Pottery, Raku Pottery and Pal Tiya Sculptures. Suitable for all levels including beginners and advanced. Why not try something new?

Pottery evening classes, The Shire Workshops

Ceramics Classes

8 weeks of throwing and hand-building

A fantastic introduction to pottery including wheel throwing and slab/coil hand-building pots. You’ll also learn about decoration techniques using different types of glazes.

This exciting course is available on selected weekday evenings, afternoons and on Saturday mornings.

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Raku glazing and firing, The Shire Workshops

Raku Pottery Workshops

Full-day workshop

Get completely carried away with this fascinating glazing and firing technique. Spend the day with us at The Shire Workshops and come away with your own Raku glazed and fired pots!

We aim to run workshops monthly weather permitting so check back regularly for new dates and to secure your place.

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Pal Tiya Sculpture Workshop, The Shire Workshops

Pal Tiya Premium Workshops

Full-day workshop

Learn to make sculptures that will last outdoors in all weather conditions, which you can take home on the same day!

Suitable for beginners or more experienced sculptors who want to try something different using a new material. We run workshops throughout the year.

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PAL TIYA PREMIUM

Buy Pal Tiya Products

Pal Tiya Premium is magical. Just add water. Knead like dough. Sculpt. Place in your garden. Cures permanently stone hard. No firing. No Molds. No Kidding!

Our product Pal Tiya Premium:

Air cures to harder than concrete!
Has been extensively free/thaw tested!
You can build small or large sculptures using just tinfoil and cardboard as your core!

And so much more…

And it just gets better as you can now buy Pal Tiya Premium to use at home or at your own studio space, direct from The Shire Workshops.

BUY HERE

What people say

About The Shire Workshops

Bob and Joe are incredibly talented, have amazing patience and kept the tea flowing while we all put our newly learnt skills to the test. There is no judgement, just support and such an enthusiasm to share their knowledge with you. It was such a great experience.

Amy Harris

Class attendee

Visited today for the witches and wizards sculpting day and thoroughly enjoyed it! Joe and bob were very helpful and lovely hosts. Cannot wait to visit again!! Highly recommend!

Gina Tebby

Class attendee

Yesterday we had the most wonderful day with Bob and Joe at their pottery studio. We were shown the techniques of working with Pal Tiya, which is an amazing medium to sculpt without the need for firing. Everyone was lovely and tea and cake in the garden area was a very nice!. Definitely want to do this again – highly recommended!

Carol Willow

Class attendee

Really good day spent with Bob & Joe. Lots of advice, patience, tea & biscuits for an absolute beginner. With their help, came home with a Green Man that I will be happy to put on a wall. Highly recommended

Carol Willow

Class attendee

I’ve just had a great day with Joe and Bob being introduced to Pal Tiya sculpting medium. The workshop was well signposted, with excellent joining information, and was held in a working ceramics workshop. The class size was small, which meant close supervision and guidance throughout that was helpful and informative. Joe did a great job demoing each of the techniques. Can’t recommend the workshop enough for those wanting to explore sculpting in a clay-like medium without all the faff of kiln firing.

Neil Burley

Class attendee

Great day with Joe and Bob. I have a million ideas and honestly couldn’t recommend it more! And the Pal Tiya is fantastic. Supple and so easy to mix and work with. Would be a terrific team building exercise.

Andrea McVey

Class attendee

I absolutely love visiting to do a bit more to my project each time. Bob is so patient and full of knowledge. His guidance and teaching of technique is very clear. The studio is a wonderful space with inspirational ideas around the room, plenty of space to work alongside others and very clean and well organised. The outdoor space is a wonderful little getaway from the hustle and bustle of life with wildlife to watch and listen to. I’m looking forward to returning

Robes KT

Class attendee

I took some girl guides to see Bob ( including one with severe special needs ) we had a fab time and he was so patient with all of us .. we all achieved a sculpture and threw a pot each on the wheel … can’t wait to go back .. highly recommended.

Robes KT

Carole Rowsell

Bob & Joe are wonderful & this is such a charming place. They have a very knowledgeable but relaxed teaching style & their creations are fantastic. I’d highly recommend everybody spends at least a day embracing their mythical & creative side here.

Emma Bond

Carole Rowsell

Joe: 07572870509

Bob: 07761123759

Email: enquiries@theshireworkshops.co.uk

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The Shire Workshops, Unit A, Dallacre Farm, Wilbarston, Market Harborough, LE168FE