Introduction to Clay:
Adult Beginners’ Handbuilding Workshops

Come along for a step-by-step Beginner Class or Friday Freestyle Taster Session. Whichever you choose, you’re sure to have a relaxing few hours in our lovely studio. Scroll down for details.

“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]

If you're new to ceramics and like the sound of spending some time playing with clay, book yourself onto one my upcoming workshops.

Looking for a gift? Reserve a place for a friend and receive a PDF gift voucher.

Beginner Classes

£59 per person for a three-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.

PLATE PERFECTION - Press-mould and slip-decorate - £59
Saturday 2nd August - 10am-1pm

Roll a perfectly even slab of clay and press it onto or into a plaster mould to create a shallow dish or bowl. Explore the decorative possibilities of decorating slips (coloured liquid clays). Use newspaper, slip trailers, a range of brushes and wooden tools to create exciting surface decoration.

CUPS & BOWLS - Pinch and texturise - £59
Sunday 10th August - 10am-1pm

Follow your instincts and experiment with the simplest way to manipulate clay. Pinch the clay between finger and thumb and 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.

SCULPT A VASE - Coil - £59
Sunday 16th August - 10am-1pm

Learn how to roll the perfect coil, build a pot from the bottom up, fix the coils together so they never come apart and experiment with form by placing the coils in different formations. Work into the piece with a range of scraping tools to refine the form and create your desired surface quality.

PLANT POTS - Slab-build - £59
Saturday 6th September - 10am-1pm

Roll beautiful slabs, add texture and learn how to stick them 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.

Three-Hour Beginner Class Information

Book a space using the form on the contact page. Payment by bank transfer upon booking.

There are 14 spaces available for each workshop. We provide aprons and tea and biscuits!

Firing Fees: Pieces are weighed and a firing fee is charged at £3/kg.

Glazing: If you would like your piece/s to be glazed by Kayley with a transparent glaze, there is an additional fee of £3.50 per piece. Alternatively, you can book onto an Intermediate Workshop to glaze your pieces.

The studio is at Spirelight Studios, 2 Parkhurst Road, N7 0SF. If you have any queries, please call Kayley on 07731 984598.

We reserve the right to cancel a session if less than four places are booked. If this happens you will be offered an 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.

Book onto a workshop

Friday Freestyle Taster Session

The fee is £36 per person for a two-hour session.

Come along to play with clay in a relaxed and friendly environment.

FRIDAY FREESTYLE TASTER SESSION - Play with clay - £36
Friday 8th August 7-9pm // Friday 15th August 7-9pm

Because sometimes, after a long week at work, you just want to relax and play with clay! This is a freestyle hand-building session for people who would like a bit of time to explore this wonderful material. Grab some clay and see where the mood takes you! Kayley will be there to offer help, advice and short demos if you need a bit of guidance.

Friday Freestyle Two-Hour Taster Extra Information