Introduction to Clay:
Beginner Hand-building Classes for Adults
Beginner Classes
£80 per person for a four-hour session
These sessions are designed to give a good understanding of basic hand-building and decorating techniques. Make with a range of different clays, experiment with exciting textures and colourful surface decoration, and glaze the fired pieces.
Each session begins with a demonstration and then Kayley will guide you through your own personal projects. Come along with your own idea or be inspired by what you see, Whatever happens, you’ll enjoy a relaxing few hours making with your hands and creating something you’re proud of.
SLAB-BUILD & PRESS-MOULD - LIDDED POTS / PLANT POTS / MUGS / SOAP DISHES / PLATES - £80
Saturday 14th March 2026 : 10am-2pm
Roll perfectly even slabs of clay and learn how to manipulate them in different ways to produce press-moulded and slab-built forms, Explore the decorative possibilities of decorating slips (coloured liquid clays). Add texture with tools and use newspaper, slip trailers and a range of brushes to create exciting surface decoration. Learn how to stick slabs together to create vessels with curved and flat sides. Think outside the box- slabs don’t have to be square! Build pieces with interesting shapes to create truly unique vessels.
PINCH & COIL - CUPS / VASES / SCULPTURAL VESSELS / PLANT POTS - £80
Saturday 21st March 2026 : 10am-2pm
Follow your instincts and experiment with the simplest way to manipulate clay between finger and thumb. Practise controlling the form to create functional objects. Play with tools to texturise the surface and add handles, foot rings and lips to determine the function of your piece. Learn how to roll the perfect coil and build a pot from the bottom up. Work into the piece with a range of scraping tools to refine the form and create your desired surface quality. You can even add a pop of colour with our decorating slips (coloured liquid clays).
Three-Hour Beginner Class Information
Book a space using the form on the contact page. Payment by bank transfer upon booking - details provided by email.
There are up to 10 spaces available for each workshop. We provide tea and biscuits!
Firing & Glazing: The class fee covers all materials and firing, and the and glazing of your piece/s with a transparent glaze by Kayley. Alternatively, if you’d like to do this yourself or experiment with other glazes, you can book onto an Intermediate Workshop to glaze your pieces yourself. Information about these sessions can be seen here.
The studio is at Spirelight Studios, 2 Parkhurst Road, N7 0SF. If you have any queries, please call Kayley on 07731 984598.
Kayley reserves the right to cancel a session if less than four places are booked. If this happens you will be offered a refund or alternative date.
Cancellation Policy
Refunds are only available if cancellations are made with good notice. Cancellations within 48 hours of the course start date will not receive a refund.
Not for you, but looking for a last-minute gift? Why not buy a gift voucher for a loved one?“‘I honestly can’t remember the last time I enjoyed something as much as the weekend I spent learning pottery with Kayley. She’s a great teacher, explaining things clearly and making them seem achievable.
The group weekend was friendly and fun and I am glad to have finally started off on my dream to make my own pottery. I would highly recommend the weekend for anyone wanting to have a go at pottery or looking for an unusual and thoughtful gift.
— Laura [Feb 2025]
“Kayley is very friendly, easy going, and an excellent and experienced teacher. This was a brilliant beginners' course, which covered a lot of the basics in a clear and informative way. Also, it had a fun, inclusive group atmosphere. Highly recommended!”
— Delia [May 2022]
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