Below is a list of Anglian Potter members who offer one-off pottery workshops or longer courses. They are grouped by county and give contact details plus links to social media profiles and email addresses (where available.)
If you would like to be included in this list (or need your details amended/removing), please contact [email protected]
Note that all information is accurate as of November 2024.
Cambridgeshire
Essex
Hertfordshire
Leicestershire
Norfolk
Northamptonshire
Suffolk
Cambridgeshire
Lis Riley – Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire
Pottery experiences in Gamlingay as The Bizzy Potter. Contact me through social media or email for further information.
Matthew Blakely – Lode, Cambridgeshire
Courses from the workshop. Mostly weekends but occasionally places come up on my morning classes. Details are on website matthewblakely.co.uk
Courses on Throwing, throwing porcelain and glaze development.
Georgie Field – Ely, Cambridgeshire
I offer workshops and tuition as part of Ely Clay Collective. We host monthly handbuilding workshops at The Yard, Ely. £40 per person, with a £5 firing fee. Perfect for beginners and gifts for friends and family who want a sociable introduction to pottery.
I also offer private tuition (both wheel throwing and handbuilding) at my studio in Ely. Suitable for beginners and improvers. For more information and availability please see our website.
Bookings at: www.elyclaycollective.com
Ian & Karen George – Cottenham, Cambridgeshire
We offer lessons in both hand building and throwing from our garden studio in Cottenham.
We teach in groups of up to 3 adults. Beginners and more experienced makers are both welcome. We can introduce you to different making methods and techniques with simple beginner projects. Those with more experience can follow their own interests with our help along the way.
Current classes run on Wednesday mornings, Wednesday evenings and Thursday afternoons during school term times.
Sessions are £25 for 2 hours. Full details are on our website www.elmhurstcreative.co.uk
Sara Wilkinson – Bourn, Cambridgeshire
At Bourn Pottery I run a variety of Workshops, Taster Sessions, 6-week courses and 1:1 lessons on all aspects of hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing and firing for beginner and more experienced potters.
All activities are taught in small groups of 6-8 in a well-equipped studio in Bourn, near Cambridge or I can come to your venue with portable equipment and wheels if you have larger groups for parties or corporate events.
Bourn Pottery offers a firing service for bisque, earthenware and stoneware for local makers who do not have their own kiln.
All activities, dates and times are listed online at www.bournpottery.co.uk
Wysing Ceramics Studio – Bourn, Cambridgeshire
The ceramics studio is part of the Wysing Arts Centre. The studio has several wheels, moulds, and a kiln. You will require a membership to use the studio unless you are taking part in a public course or event.
Please look at our website wysingartscentre.org for information on upcoming events and workshops as well as general information on our studio.
Essex
Judith Annakie-Eriksen – Langdon Hills, Essex
JAE Ceramics
I am an experienced pottery tutor offering one-to-one taster pottery lessons (on the wheel or a simple pinch pot) in my home studio in Langdon Hills, Essex. Cost £40 for 1 hour, plus £5 firing fee if the customer wishes to keep their pot. Ongoing lessons are possible subject to discussion.
Handbuilding workshops for four to eight people are offered and held at a venue arranged by the customer. Prices start at £30 per person for a two-hour workshop.
Contact me via my website www.jaeceramics.com
Lizzie Croucher – Colchester, Essex
I deliver potter’s wheel & handbuilding classes for beginners in my home studio – either one or two people at a time.
Prices start from £65 for a two-hour session for one person, with discounts for multiple sessions if booked together.
All the details are on my website, where people can book and pay – www.croucherli.co.uk/classes
Madelaine Hanman Murphy – Leigh on Sea, Essex
HanmanMurphy Studio
Leigh Marina
High Street
Leigh On Sea
Essex SS9 2ES
Phone or text 07545 375246
Accommodation is also available- https://airbnb.com/h/oldleighfishermanscottage
Open Studio Sessions are on:
• Thursdays 7pm-9:30pm
• Fridays 2pm-4:30pm
• Saturdays 10am-12:30, 2pm-4:30pm
Maximum of 6 people, bookable up to 24 hours in advance, £32pp all inclusive.
Parking is in the yard of the Marina, and is within 8 minutes walkable distance of Leigh Old Town with pubs and restaurants, and the beach.
I work on projects, commissions, and my own work in the studio, alongside developing others from beginners to semi-professional. Work is self directed, and each person is encouraged to develop their own work and personal journey in clay. There is a balance of working on the wheel, handbuilding, function, decoration and a wider view of the historical and cultural use of clay.
Specialist workshops are also offered, for further information please go to https://www.instagram.com/hanmanmurphystudios/
Open Studio Sessions are a well established mix of beginners, advanced and semi-professional potters, and new people are welcome to join.
Family learning is also popular, with mixed generations enjoying a specially designed session for that family. POA.
Individual sessions are available at £120 per session; these focus on a skills based approach, with a wider view of exhibiting opportunities, personal development, or commercial viability.
Hertfordshire
Annie Hull – North Hertfordshire
Throwing and handbuilding courses and workshops in modern studio in North Hertfordshire. Up to 2 students per session. Flexible dates and times.
Phone: 07740 720916 or visit my website: www.anniehullceramics.uk
Leicestershire
Katherine Staples – Wymondham, Leicestershire
My studio is the Katherine Staples Clay Studio and Gallery, based at Wymondham Windmill, not far from Melton Mowbray. I offer pottery classes as well as making my own sculptures.
Visit my website for more details: www.katherinestaples.com
Norfolk
Ray Auker – Norwich Norfolk
I hold talks at Fire & Flux in Norwich covering various aspects of ceramic practice. Also, folks can book a one-one throwing session with me at Fire & Flux.
Alison Clarke – Heathersett, Norfolk
A 1:1 or 1:2 session exploring clay and learning about pinch, slab and coil pots and learning to throw a pot on the wheel. Once dry I will trim, fire and glaze your pots and send them to you. £40 for one person/£60 for two. This session will last about an hour/hour and a half.
Diana Ng – Great Plumstead, Norwich, Norfolk
Throwing lessons normally on Saturdays at my studio in Great Plumstead, Norwich.
In this two-hour session, you’ll be trying your hands on a potter’s wheel. You’ll be shown the methods and techniques of throwing. At the end of the class, you can pick one piece that you make and I’ll fire it for you with your preferred house glaze. Clay, tools, equipment and aprons are provided to use.
Check out availability here: www.ngpottery.com
Christine Pike – Downham Market, Norfolk
Animal head sculpture workshop: £60
In this 3-hour workshop you will learn how to employ simple hand-building techniques to stunning effect to make your own animal head sculpture with integral base. Choose between a hare or a raven. Depending on how fast you work you may get time to make more than one piece.
Garden Bloom sculpture workshop: £120
Discover the loveliness of terracotta clay!
Its beauty doesn’t require glazing apart from a light manganese wash to highlight any marks and texture you have created, and fired work can be displayed outdoors as well as indoors.
In this full day workshop you will make a gorgeous ‘show off’ blossom sculpture that would be the envy of Chelsea!
These workshops will be held at Discover Downham Heritage Centre, Downham Market, Norfolk
Classical Hare Sculpture £250
This workshop is aimed at people who have already done one of my workshops or who already have some sculpting experience.
In this intensive, two day workshop you will be encouraged to take your sculpting skills to the next level to create a beautiful standing hare on a base, with applied floral decoration.
On day 1 you will be shown how to make a slab-built base and then I will demonstrate how to hollow build the body of your hare. You will practice making heads.
On day 2 you will create the head and ears for your hare and apply floral decoration to the body and base, in the manner of classical Meissen and Dresden sculptures.
You will be shown various techniques for adding texture and character.
You will be supported throughout the course to develop your own style.
This workshop will be held at my studio on the edge of Downham Market, Norfolk
All workshops include:
– All materials and use of tools
– Two firings and application of manganese wash
– Tea & Coffee
See website travellingcrow.com for latest courses offered and available dates
Other courses available at the Blended Monkey Studios in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Emma Wright – Norwich, Norfolk
Offering pottery wheel taster sessions and longer courses. In-depth workshops explaining the preparation procedure, demonstration and step-by-step guidance through the stages of throwing a pot or bowl on the pottery wheel. Either on a one-to-one or two-to-one basis.
Regular group hand-building sessions too.
Website www.brickkilnpottery.co.uk
Northamptonshire
Louise Crookenden-Johnson – Kettering, Northamptonshire
I love teaching beginners throwing on the potters wheel, 2 hours friendly class with lots of hands-on help. Maximum class size 4 adults.
Regular classes daytime, evenings, weekends. Private sessions for 2 + people.
Also, festive decorations, spring garden ornaments. Just check out my website or get in touch using the contact form louisecrookendenjohnson.uk/workshops
Suffolk
Tony Carter – Debenham, Suffolk
Tony Carter is a highly experienced ceramics tutor having run his internationally recognised pottery and taught all aspects of pottery for over 40 years.
The studio is light and airy, classes are fun, jolly and informative. Classes are run on a rolling 4 weeks programme, mostly working on projects.
For classes and times please go to the website www.tonycarterpotteryschool.com or phone: 01728 861170
Learn, Create, enjoy.
Tim Cross (Lowestoft Studio Ceramics) – Lowestoft, Suffolk
We are a small independent ceramics studio based on Lowestoft’s historic High Street. Check out our website.
Our hand-build pottery classes are kept to small groups of people, this keeps the classes intimate and allows students to be given sufficient help in a friendly atmosphere. We cater for all abilities, those with previous experience can join at any time, beginners will be shown how to make a coil pot, a pinch pot and a small slab-built pot. We then encourage you to choose a project and we will work with you to achieve this.
Courses last for four weeks and cost £60. These ongoing sessions include many returning students after the initial four week commitment.
We run regular hand-build classes during the week:
• Monday 2-4 & 7-9
• Tuesday 9-11, 12.30-2.30 & 7-9
• Wednesday 7-9
• Saturday 10-12
Wednesday 10-12: improvers throwing classes
Wednesday 1-3: beginners throwing classes – During these sessions, after a brief demonstration, you will learn the steps of wedging and centering, to throw on the wheel and trimming your pieces. We will then assist you in making a pot/bowl of your choice which will then be fired twice and ready to collect in approximately three weeks. Session price is £40 per person, £30 for members.
We also offer an Afternoon of Clay which is an enjoyable afternoon making pots and is suitable for all skill levels. You will make and decorate a pot with colourful underglazes, which will be fired, clear glazed and ready for collection in approximately two weeks. Booking is essential. Session price is £25 per person and private parties can be catered for.
Louise Gridley – Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
• Prosecco Potters – Monthly evening session on the third Friday of the month at Oakes Barn venue in Bury St Edmunds, 7.30 – 9.30pm. A fun, themed-session using air-dry clay sipping on a complementary glass of prosecco. Workshop info at www.louisegridley.com
• Native Creative – Monthly Saturday sessions at The Self Centre, Bury St Edmunds. Half-day and full-day themed workshops with a mindful, well-being focus. All work kiln-fired.
• Life Drawing classes – Weekly life drawing classes on Tuesday evenings at Abbeygate Sixth Form College, 6.30 – 8.30pm. A variety of models, approaches and creative media explored. All materials and refreshments included. Bookings in half termly blocks. Early booking advised. Workshop info at www.louisegridley.com
• Other one-off workshops advertised on my website. Sign up to email subscriptions to stay in the loop! I provide a mobile ceramic workshop service and cater for all ages and abilities including parties, hens, corporate events. Please contact me to discuss your ideas.
See my website for full workshop information: www.louisegridley.com
Hayley Rowlands – Aldringham, Suffolk
I teach regular small classes (up to 4 adults) on Tuesday mornings, Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings in my garden studio in Aldringham. Students are taught hand building techniques: pinching, slab, coil and sculpting working in stoneware. I particularly enjoy sculpting and coiling.
My classes are booked 4 consecutive weeks at a time. Existing students are given first dibs at the next block. They are very popular and often full but I keep a waiting list for those not lucky enough to get a space straight away. It’s great fun, and whilst I have lots of ideas and projects to develop skills, I always listen to my students and tune into their strengths and wishes to develop their own style and interests.
I also offer bespoke sessions in all the above techniques as well as teaching the potters wheel. If someone has the basic techniques they can use the wheel in the 4 weekly classes. I have 2 pottery wheels, one of which is mobile and I offer a service to go to peoples homes to teach all ages and stages!
Please check my website: breakingthemouldpottery.com for more details, including pricing.
