Classes
My weekly classes are aimed at all levels and can accommodate up to 8 people at any one time. Everybody is taught individually and at their own pace in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Pottery is a great way to relax and de-stress whilst learning a new skill. There is no end to what you can learn!
About The Classes
If you are a beginner or new to hand building, your first 6 weeks will be a crash course, in which you try out lots of different techniques. Then, after that, you can choose to make what you like. You can make sculptural or functional, representational or abstract pieces, as you wish. I will guide you through the whole process, from building to decorating and glazing.
I teach all sorts of hand-building techniques including press moulding, slab building, coiling, extruding, pinching, slip casting, modelling, sculpting, mould making, many different surface decorative techniques, and glazing.
Whilst I focus predominantly on hand-building, there is one wheel in the well-equipped studio which is available for students to use on a first-come, first-served basis. I don’t specialise in throwing but can teach you the basics in a 1:1 Taster Session.
Duration: Each class is 3 hours.
To allow flexibility, students purchase a block of 5 classes which they can use for any class over the following 3 months. Some students come weekly, others twice one week and then have a break for a holiday for 2 weeks. Life is busy! Once your block of 5 is used up, you purchase a new one and the 3 months resets.
Cost: £275 per block of 5 (i.e. £55 per class)
If you're interested in joining, please don't hesitate to get in touch!
What Is Included?
I provide all teaching, materials except for a few more expensive materials (e.g. porcelain and lustres), glazes, 2 firings for each piece and use of a wide range of tools and equipment. There are lots of ceramics books and magazines in the studio which can be referred to for inspiration, as well as lots of ideas online.
What to Bring
You will need to provide your own apron or an old shirt to wear whilst you work – ceramics can be quite messy! It is also best to keep your nails short for ceramics. If you are inspired by something you’ve seen, feel free to bring a picture(s).
Class Times
Classes take place on weekdays, during the day as well as evenings. If there is a different time you’d prefer, do ask.
Current Classes
Wednesday mornings, 9.30am-12.30pm
Wednesday evenings, 6pm-9pm
Thursday afternoons, 2.30pm-5.30pm
Upcoming DATES
autumn 2024
Wednesday Classes :
4th - 25th September
23rd October - 11th December
Thursday Classes:
5th - 26th September
24th October - 12th December
Where Is the Studio?
The studio is in my home on Girdwood Road, Southfields, London SW18 5QT.
Refund Policy
I do not offer refunds, but instead, facilitate students making up missed classes wherever possible.
FAQs
If you have a question that I haven’t covered above, then please take a look at the FAQs page. I’ve been asked all sorts of questions about the classes and studio, and I’ve shared a lot of the answers.
Workshops
If you want to develop a specific skill or technique, then one of my dedicated workshops might be more suitable for you.
About The workshops
In addition to my weekly classes, I run occasional workshops focusing on specific skill sets e.g. Nerikomi, specific decorative techniques, glaze application, mould making, etc. These are run on an ad hoc basis. The workshops are very comprehensive and have time built in for you to try out what you are learning as we go along. They are a great opportunity to focus on areas which you would like to learn more about and gain a more in-depth understanding.
If you're interested in joining or would like to request a workshop, please don't hesitate to get in touch!
Upcoming workshops
Workshops run on Monday and Thursday afternoons during term times. Dates are to be announced shortly.
Nerikomi
Nerikomi is a Japanese hand-building technique that integrates a pattern throughout the clay instead of just surface decoration.
In this workshop, you will learn how to colour clay and how to use those coloured clays to create patterned slabs which can then be used to create ceramic pieces.
Duration: 3 hours
Cost: £90 per person (includes all materials)
Next Workshop:
Groups are limited to a maximum of 5 people.
Glaze Application
This workshop covers the different methods of applying glaze: dipping, pouring, spraying and brushing. We will discuss the pros and cons of each method and you will each get a chance to try them out. I will show you how to use wax and latex as well as tongs and magnets to get the best even glaze application.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cost: £75 per person (includes all materials)
Next Workshop:
Groups are limited to a maximum of 5 people.
Slip Decoration Techniques
An introduction to the many ways slip can be used in the decoration of ceramics including sgraffito, mono-printing, slip-trailing, resists, and colour-mixing. During the workshop, I will demonstrate each technique and then give you a chance to try it out for yourself.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cost: £75 per person (includes all materials)
Next Workshop:
Groups are limited to a maximum of 5 people.
Mould Making
In this workshop, you will learn how to make plaster moulds suitable for press moulding, slip casting and sprig making. I will show you how to work out how many pieces your mould needs to be, and how best to minimize visible seam lines. I provide items suitable for moulding, but you can bring your own items you’d like to mould (the simpler the shape of the item the better).
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cost: £75 per person (includes all materials)
Next Workshop:
Groups are limited to a maximum of 5 people.
What Is Included?
I provide all teaching, materials except for a few more expensive materials (e.g. porcelain and lustres), glazes, 2 firings for each piece and use of a wide range of tools and equipment. There are lots of ceramics books and magazines in the studio which can be referred to for inspiration, as well as lots of ideas online.
What to Bring
You will need to provide your own apron or an old shirt to wear whilst you work – ceramics can be quite messy! It is also best to keep your nails short for ceramics. If you are inspired by something you’ve seen, feel free to bring a picture(s).
What if I Miss my workshop?
Please note that I am not able to offer refunds for workshop bookings, so be sure to double check your dates before booking. However, I realise that the unexpected happens, and that a degree of flexibility is appreciated. I therefore allow transfers to other workshops up until 14 days prior to the class.
Where Is the Studio?
The studio is in my home on Girdwood Road, Southfields, London SW18 5QT.
Refund Policy
I do not offer refunds, but instead, facilitate students making up missed classes wherever possible.
FAQs
If you have a question that I haven’t covered above, then please take a look at the FAQs page. I’ve been asked all sorts of questions about the classes and studio, and I’ve shared a lot of the answers here.
Gift Vouchers
Gift vouchers are available for any of these experiences and are valid for a year from purchase. Please contact me if you are interested.
Additional Sessions
Holiday Drop-In Sessions
I run two 2.5-hour sessions each day for a week during the holiday breaks whereby you can come on as many days of the week as you choose. Morning classes run 10am-12.30pm and afternoon classes 2-4.30pm. These are a great opportunity to spend some intensive time in the studio working on particular projects.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cost: £45 per person (includes all materials)
Next Sessions: The dates of the next sessions will be published very soon.
Taster Sessions
I run taster sessions, either for small groups or 1:1 for beginners to see if they might enjoy ceramics. I can either offer an introduction to a selection of basic hand-building techniques or focus on one particular technique.
Pieces made in taster sessions are not usually fired since this is purely a practice class in which the aim is not to create finished pieces but to focus on the techniques themselves.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cost: £75 per person (includes all materials)
Next Sessions: Taster sessions are by special arrangement, so do contact me directly.
Team building/family /group activity
Making with clay is a great activity to enjoy in a group. Perhaps you’d like to celebrate a family occasion or get together with friends.
I recently ran a session for Brownies and Guides to create gifts for Mothers’ Day
Sessions are by special arrangement and are tailored to your requirements.
Contact me directly to discuss this further.
What People Are Saying
“Cathy has an encyclopaedic knowledge of ceramics which she wears very lightly so as not to intimidate a beginner like me. It’s been wonderful to cover the basics in such a way that I learn the skills but also feel the final projects are personal to me and to my taste.”
— Bonnie Collins
“I cherish the time I spend in Cathy’s welcoming studio. She has taught me so much about ceramics and given me the chance to try many techniques, nothing is off-limit.”
— Vikki Pearson
“I went to Cathy’s pottery workshop as a complete novice, I was not sure I could make anything recognisable!
Cathy is a wonderfully patient teacher and took us through each step of the process of making a vase. We were able to be as ‘hands on’ as we wanted, I learned so much and am definitely keen to learn more.
It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, good fun, very informative, I came away with a great sense of having created something I will use and admire forever.”
— Elaine Lumley
