12-week Introduction to Ceramics Course

About this course

The course introduces ceramics through a combination of hand-building and wheel work. Participants prepare clay using wedging, then explore pinching, coiling, slab building, joining and scoring before learning to centre clay, pull walls and shape cylinders, cups and bowls on the wheel. Wheel-thrown pieces are refined through trimming and turning, with additional techniques including hump moulds, handle making, slip decoration and sgraffito. Sessions introduce techniques as a group, followed by time to practise independently and complete pieces. The course also includes an introduction to glazing, with opportunities to finish and refine work in progress.

What you'll learn

• Prepare clay using wedging
• Construct forms using pinching, coiling and slab-building techniques
• Join clay using scoring and related construction methods
• Centre clay and shape basic forms on the wheel
• Refine and decorate ceramic pieces using trimming, slips and sgraffito

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for beginners, including people with no previous experience of working with clay. It combines structured group tuition with time to practise techniques independently, making it suitable for learners who want a guided introduction with room to work at their own pace.

• No previous experience is needed
• Teaching is delivered in a group before individual practice

Before you go

• Clay, glazes and use of studio equipment are included.
• Firing is charged separately.