The Ceramic Studio announced its 2026 Guest Potter Workshops
The Ceramic Studio is thrilled to announce its new line-up of Guest Potter Workshops — an extraordinary chance to learn from some of the most innovative ceramic artists working today. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned potter, there’s something for everyone.
Each workshop is guided by a guest tutor — a professional potter or ceramicist — bringing a unique style, fresh techniques and years of experience. From wheel-throwing masterclasses and porcelain hand-building, to decorative techniques, slipware, surface textures and sculptural work — there’s a rich variety of courses designed to expand your skills and creative vision.
Classes are held in a beautiful studio set in a converted barn near Tunbridge Wells, just an hour’s drive from London. With light, spacious studios and small-group teaching, you’ll get plenty of individual attention and a supportive, friendly atmosphere.
Discover the workshops →
What you can expect
• Focused, high-quality teaching — from throwing on the wheel to delicate porcelain hand-building, slab-construction, glazing, surface texture, and slipware.
• Creative variety — each workshop explores different methods and aesthetics, so whether you want to refine traditional pottery techniques, experiment with bold surface design, or explore sculptural pieces, there’s plenty on offer.
• Community and inspiration — working alongside like-minded creatives, you’ll be part of a vibrant pottery community that encourages collaboration, feedback, and mutual support.
Who it’s for
The Ceramic Studio’s Guest Potter Workshops are inclusive — open to anyone from curious beginners to experienced makers wanting to push their craft further. Some workshops suit those new to clay, while others offer advanced challenges for seasoned potters. Please check the course descriptions for each workshop’s recommended skill level.
Explore the full 2026 workshop line-up:
• Craig Underhill — Slab Building & Surface Mark Making (11–14 May)
Craig’s workshop is all about structure and texture. Learn reliable slab-building techniques, construct three-dimensional forms and explore mark-making methods that transform flat surfaces into tactile, expressive pieces.
• Andri Maimaridou — Kintsugi (31 May)
Celebrate the art of repair. Andri introduces the modern approach to Kintsugi, where cracks and breaks are honoured and visually transformed using lacquer and metallic highlights.
• Louise Bell — Playful Animals (6–7 June)
This two-day workshop invites playful exploration through hand-built animal sculptures. Learn creative construction techniques, plus finishing methods using tissue transfers and slips for characterful decoration.
• Dee Barnes — Decorated Treasure Boxes (13–14 June)
Dee’s course focuses on functional beauty. You’ll slab-build keepsake boxes and explore colourful slip decoration to create practical yet decorative pieces.
• Sophie Aguilera Lester — Flower Making in Porcelain (20–21 June)
Delicate, refined, and meditative—Sophie’s workshop walks you through hand building porcelain flowers with an emphasis on precision and finesse.
• Emily Stubbs — Patterns, Prints & Pots (27–28 June)
Emily’s focus is surface. Create patterned and textured slabs, then use those surfaces to build one-off vessels with personality and depth.
• Amanda-Sue Rope — Collage with Clay: Combining Thrown & Hand-Built Elements (29 June – 3 July)
This five-day workshop combines thrown forms with hand-built elements to create innovative lidded vessels and bottle forms—part function, part sculpture.
• Justine Allison — Hand Building with Porcelain (4–5 July)
Justine’s course is for those wanting to master delicate porcelain hand building. Learn techniques that make fine, fragile forms that sing with subtlety.
• Matthew Blakely — An Exploration of Glazing (6–10 July)
Matthew’s intensive explores glaze theory and application, encouraging experimentation with colour, layering and surface behaviour. Expect practical demonstrations and tests to demystify glaze chemistry.
• Paul Smith — Hand Building Animals (11–12 July)
Paul offers another sculptural weekend focused on animal forms—techniques, structure and expressive detail are all on the menu.
• Harriet Caslin — Casting & Carving Slip Cast Porcelain (13–15 July)
This course teaches slip casting, carving and finishing to create sculptural and semi-functional porcelain pieces that play with pattern, texture and colour.
• Richard Phethean — Throwing & Altering (20–24 July)
Richard’s longer course concentrates on throwing, altering and handling larger weights—building confidence for more ambitious work and improving form control.
• Kwak Kyungtae — Wheel Throwing Masterclass (26–30 Aug) & Onggi Demo / Masterclass (31 Aug & 2–6 Sept)
Kwak brings deep traditional knowledge: a five-day masterclass in Korean wheel-throwing alongside a demonstration and an Onggi masterclass focusing on traditional large-jar techniques.
• Brian Dickenson — Improve Your Throwing Masterclass (7–18 Sept)
An intensive two-week course aimed at repetition and refinement—Brian’s class is designed to dramatically improve technique through focused practice.
• Francis Lloyd-Jones — Learn to Throw (28 Sept – 2 Oct)
A beginner-friendly throwing course that covers the fundamentals: cylinders, bowls and the core stages of making.
• James Ort — Ceramic Animals (12–14 Oct & 9–10 Nov)
Sculptural, expressive animal work with unique modelling approaches to produce standing and wall-mounted animal forms.
• Alice Mara — Hand Building Houses (15–16 Oct & 12–13 Nov)
Build slab-constructed houses using photographic transfers and careful detailing—this course is part architecture, part memory-box.
• Russell Kingston — Slip Decorated Earthenware (19–23 Oct)
Combine throwing with traditional country pottery and slip decoration to make rustic, decorated earthenware pieces.
• Adam Frew — Throwing with Porcelain (2–6 Nov)
Focus on throwing porcelain and Matthew-style glazing techniques: crisp lines, brushwork and surface contrasts.
• Kate Semple — Between Paper and Clay (16–19 Nov)
Explore the relationship between paper and clay—forms, textures and how the two mediums inform each other.
• Tom Knowles-Jackson — Throwing Statement Kitchenware (23–27 Nov)
A five-day workshop focused on repetition and fluency in making kitchenware that celebrates form and function.
Why join a Guest Potter Workshop?
Learn from recognised makers. Work in small groups for hands-on tuition. Try a wide range of techniques—from slab-building and slip casting to traditional wheel-throwing, glazing and sculptural practice. Above all, meet a community of makers who will challenge and inspire you.
The Ceramic Studio’s workshops take place in Brenchley, Kent, an English countryside location easily reached from London and major transport links.
Spaces are limited; a 20% deposit secures your place. If a particular course sparks you, book early to avoid disappointment.
