Pottery Workshops

Welcome to the home of Pottery workshops.
Below you will find details of my up and coming workshops in Derbyshire. 

About

After creating Pottery HOMES house portraits for over 10 years in my home based studio in rural Derbyshire, I am now enjoying sharing my love of clay with others. I have discovered holding small workshops for local people is very rewarding and social - after being in my studio for years! So why not join me for a relaxed and hopefully fun class to learn a new skill and make friends!


I can tailor a workshop to suit you and your friends or colleagues, at a venue of your choice, please email me to discuss. 


My workshops tend to fill fast! If you would like to know when new workshops are available to book, then add yourself to my mailing list by completing this form. 

Up and Coming Workshops

Lace Jug

Thursday 18th April 2024 - FULLY BOOKED

9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Price: £40 per person

@ Turners Art, Lumsdale Road, Matlock, DE4 5EX

Unleash your inner designer with clay and create a beautiful, handcrafted jug with a delicate lace pattern. 

This workshop will guide you through the process of creating your own stunning jug using slab building techniques.  I'll provide a variety of templates to help you choose the perfect size and shape for your jug. There will be a selection of materials that you can use to imprint a beautiful design onto your clay. If you're feeling extra creative, you can use stamps or create your own buttons to enhance the seam decoration. Or, for a clean look, you can completely hide the seam. Finally, handcraft a unique handle to complete your one-of-a-kind jug.

I'll offer a range of glaze colours to let you personalize your jug even further.

No prior experience necessary! This three-hour workshop will provide full instruction and demonstrations for all the techniques involved. If you're already comfortable with slab building, you're welcome to design your own unique jug as well!

This workshop is the perfect opportunity to unleash your inner designer and create a one-of-a-kind piece of pottery that you'll treasure for years to come.

Tea and coffee provided.

Please note the items cannot be taken home on the day. Your pottery will need to be dried, fired and glazed. They will be ready to collect at your convenience from the venue approximately 2-3 weeks later. 

Book here: LACE JUGS WORKSHOP

Birdhouse

Friday 19th April 2024, 1pm to 4pm and

Saturday 10th April 2024, 10am to 1pm

Venue: By Heather May, Ripley
Price: £47

Calling all creative minds, both beginners and experienced potters! Join us for a fun and fulfilling 3-hour workshop where you'll build a beautiful and functional birdhouse using the slab building technique.

In this workshop, you will learn the fundamentals of slab building, a versatile pottery technique, and craft a unique birdhouse, perfect for attracting feathered friends to your garden.

Unleash your creativity with surface decoration. Add detailed leaves, berries, flowers, or any natural elements that inspire you, making your birdhouse truly one-of-a-kind.

Beginners will receive comprehensive instructions and templates to guide them, while experienced potters can develop their own designs and use their existing skills. If you already have a specific design in mind and want to create a custom birdhouse shape, please bring your own template pre-cut and ensure all pieces fit comfortably within an A3 sheet of paper

All materials and equipment are provided, and your finished birdhouse will be fired and glazed to the colour of your choice. You can pick it up from By Heather Mays 2-3 weeks later, ready to be displayed with pride in your home or garden.

Book here:

Birdhouse Workshop Friday 19th April

Birdhouse Workshop Saturday 20th April


Honey Pot 

Friday 10th May 2024 10am-1pm

Venue: Turner's Art Studio, Lumsdale Road, Matlock, DE4 5EX, 
Price: £40

Learn how to make a coil pot and create small bees to decorate this delightful little pot.

Coiling clay pots is a simple process of layering coils one at a time, then welding the layers together to create a solid form. It is an extremely versatile technique that is good for beginners but can be used for great craftsmanship and artistry. 

This is a 3 hour workshop aimed at beginners and those building on their pottery techniques and experience. Experienced potters can create a coil bowl/pot using their own style and ideas if they want. 

All materials and equipment are provided along with tea and coffee.

Please note the items cannot be taken home on the day. Your pottery will need to be dried, fired and glazed. They will be ready to collect at your convenience from the venue approximately 2-3 weeks later. 

Book here: Honey Pot Workshop


Clay Club - work on your own project at you own pace! 

This is a block of 3 sessions each of 3 hours @ Turner's Art Studio, Matlock. 

Future dates to be confirmed.

For more information and to book see Clay Club. 

NOTE: There may be options if you can't make one of the dates! Email me to discuss. 

Dates for your diary..

Here's the details of the next workshops in Matlock at Turner's Art Studio for 2024.




Dates for your diary..

Workshops in Ripley at By Heather May!
See By Heather May website for booking details. 






 Here are some examples of items made at workshops...


Please message me with any questions regarding workshops or if you'd like to book a tailored workshop at your own location.

Previous Workshops

Tealight House FULLY BOOKED

Date: Friday 29th September 2023

Venue: Turner's Art Studio, Lumsdale Road, Matlock, DE4 5EX,  from 9:30 AM to 1PM,  Price: £40


We will be slab building a small house from white stoneware clay to a design of your choice. Templates of different designs and shapes will be provided. You can use foliage and/or stamps to add texture to decorate and personalise your house. Finally, we will cut doors and windows to allow the light from a tealight to spill out.

All techniques will be demonstrated, and all materials and equipment supplied. This is a more skilled workshop but still suitable for anyone including beginners. Tea and coffee is provided.

Please note the items cannot be taken home on the day. Your pottery will need to be dried, fired and glazed. They will be ready to collect at your convenience from the venue approximately 2-3 weeks later.