Pottery and Sculpture Classes and Workshops
At The Shire Workshops we offer a wide range of creative pottery and sculpture classes and workshops. Classes run for a number of weeks or as a one or two-day course. The workshop is also available on an hourly basis for you to come and do whatever you want. Private tuition is available too. Please see details below.
You can also book direct onto our courses on EventBrite and make sure you follow our page to get notifications when new courses are added.
8-week evening classes
Learn how to throw pots on the pottery wheel, slab/coil build handbuilt pots, decoration and glazing techniques, sculpture and Raku. Take your finished pottery creations home with you at the end of the course!
Introduction to ceramics – 8-week evening class.
This course is ideal for beginners of all ages, and also caters for more experienced potters who want to come and use our workshop facilities. Depending on your skill level, we can give you as much or as little help as you need.
Classes are on weekday evenings.
Classes run on each weekday evening, Monday to Friday from 7.15pm to 9.15pm. The class you book continues on the same evening each week for 8 weeks.
During the course we will teach you:
We can also cover sculpture, depending on what you would like to learn from us.
At the end of the course, you will have your own finished pottery pieces to take home.
What’s included:
The price for this 8-week pottery course is £180 (£150 + VAT) and includes tuition, equipment, and the use of the workshop. Materials and firing costs will be charged at the end of the course based on the weight of your finished pots. It’s usually around £8 – £10 for an average-sized mug or bowl, while a large heavy vase may be around £20+, just to give you an idea.
Come and get creative!
We believe pottery is a very relaxing and therapeutic activity that can be enjoyed by all age groups and levels. It’s a great way to meet new people too!
For availability on the next course or to enquire about future courses, use the EMAIL button below to send us an email. Please state which course and date interests you.
8-week Daytime classes
Want to learn pottery and ceramics but evenings are not your thing? Then come join in the fun with one of our daytime classes!
Introduction to ceramics – 8-week class available Monday afternoon, Tuesday afternoon, Thursday morning & afternoon, Friday morning & afternoon, or Saturday morning.
The daytime class covers the same details as our evening class detailed above. The class you book continues on the same day and time each week for 8 weeks.
Class Times.
Monday 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Tuesday 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Thursday 10am – 12pm & 1pm – 3pm
Friday 10am – 12pm & 1pm – 3pm
Saturday 10am – 12pm
What’s included:
The price for this 8-week pottery course is £180 (£150 + VAT) and includes tuition, equipment, and use of the workshop. Materials and firing costs will be charged at the end of the course based on the weight of your finished pots. It’s usually around £8 – £10 for an average-sized mug or bowl, whilst a large heavy vase or sculpture may be around £20+.
For availability on the next course or to enquire about future courses, use the EMAIL button below to send us an email. Please state which course and date interests you.
Full-Day Classes
Join in the magic and excitement of Raku Glaze Firings with our one-day course. Spend the day learning about this amazing pottery art form that originated in Japan in the 16th century.
With its dramatic mix of earth, fire, air and water, Raku firing is an exciting approach to pottery, with quick results. In Raku, pottery is glazed with special oxides and glazes. The pots are removed from the kiln when red hot and cooled rapidly. Colours and effects can be dramatic and beautiful, and you’re never sure what’s going to happen!
Making your pots for Raku Day:
We run optional makers evenings a few weeks before each Raku day. If you have signed up for one of our Exploring Ceramics evening/daytime classes you can also plan to make pots suitable for Raku firing. Alternatively, you come to the studio any weekday to make pots for Raku firing. See the price list below for studio rates.
On a Raku Firing Day, you will glaze and fire 3 pots.
Making your own pots away from the Workshop:
Should you prefer to make your 3 pots in your own time away from the Workshop please contact us for important information about size and suitable clay bodies.
On the day we will:
At the end of the day, you will be able to take home your finished Raku pots!
To book on the next course or to enquire about availability for current and future courses, please email us with the course/workshop and date of interest.
Full Day Classes
Using the magic of Pal Tiya Premium, learn to make sculptures that will last outdoors in all weather conditions. And, at the end of this one-day class, you can take your sculpture home with you!
It’s an incredible and fun product.
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!
Suitable for beginners or more experienced sculptors who want to try this new material.
To book a Pal Tiya workshop, or to check availability, please email us using the button below and state the date and title of the workshop.
If you have a small group of people interested in a one day Pal Tiya Sculpture Workshop, we are happy to put on extra dates and themes to suit you. Please email to discuss.
Visit nixiemade.com and then click Classes and The Shire Workshops to view and book any of the classes below.
Monday Art Escape – the next class is Introduction to Drawing
4 November
£20pp
Six-Week Art Adventure – Plant-Based Art!
The last class of this series is next Saturday: Pencil Sketches
Saturdays 1-3pm
£20pp
Four-Week Art Adventure: All About Colour!
Saturdays 1 – 3pm
28th October to 16 November
£65pp
Lino Print Your Winter Cards
Sunday 10 Nov 1 – 3pm
£25pp
Festive Rag Wreath Workshop
Saturday 7 December 1 – 3pm
£25pp
Six-Week Art Adventures: Paper Art!
Saturdays 1 – 3pm
11 January to 15 February
£95pp
Please note the following before you book
If you need to cancel a booking we can give a full refund with 30 days’ notice before the event, or after the 30 days if we can find a replacement for that spot. If we can’t find a replacement to offer you a refund, we will keep your details and offer a place on another course/day if there are late dropouts that we can’t fill. Or we can give you the amount as a credit to be used as workshop time.
Can’t make a pottery class session? We do catch-up sessions.
If for any reason you are not able to attend any of your pottery class sessions, you can use catch-up sessions during the period of your 8-week course. If this is not possible we offer a period after your course ends to use up your missed time. This period is 8 weeks from the date your course finishes before we wipe the slate clean with the next groups.
We will still look after your pots and sculptures as they are processed.
Bench time £7.50 per hour
Wheel time £10 per hour
Individual: £30 per hour
Two people: £20 per person per hour
3/5 people: £15 per person per hour
Plus, material charge by weight of finished items @ £0.02 per gram + £1
8 weeks of throwing and hand-building on weekday evenings for beginners and improvers. (or do your own thing). Classes also run on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday afternoon or Saturday morning – £180 (£150 + VAT) per person.
Returning students on consecutive courses are charged £160 ( £133.34 + VAT) per person.
Materials and firing costs will be charged at the end of the course based on the weight of your finished pots. It’s usually around £8 – £10 for an average-sized mug or bowl, whilst a large heavy vase or sculpture may be around £20, or more.
Pal Tiya Premium 1 Day Sculpture Workshops – £120 (£100 + VAT) per person and you take away your piece at the end of a fun day.
You can also purchase Pal Tiya Premium for your own at-home projects. Shop here.
Book some workshop time to make your Raku pots with our guidance. Pots will need to be made at least 3 weeks before the Raku day – £45 per person to include materials and biscuit firing of 3 pots.
Raku Glazing and Firing Day – £120 (£100 + VAT) per person and you take away your finished pieces at the end of the day.
Joe: 07572870509
Bob: 07761123759
Email: enquiries@theshireworkshops.co.uk
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