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​Surrey Pottery Making Classes

Based in Witley, Godalming in Surrey, Wildcroft Pottery provides hand-building pottery classes to beginners or those with limited experience. However, you are more than welcome to sign up for classes if you have more experience and want to refresh your skills or work at your own pace. 

What does  hand-building entail? 

At Wildcroft Pottery, all lessons focus on hand-building techniques. No wheels are involved, hand-building relies solely on your hands and a few basic tools to mould the clay into a variety of shapes. Unlike throwing on the wheel, which only creates round forms, hand-building allows for the creation of diverse shapes and sizes. Utilising three main techniques—pinching, coiling, and slab building, plus sculpture—you can craft almost anything from clay.

What classes do we offer?

  • ​​​​Taster Classes â€‹

  • Weekly Courses ​

  • 1:1 or 1:2 Private ClassesFriends/Family/Colleagues Group Sessions (3-6 people)

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What clay do we use at Wildcroft Pottery?

 

All our clay is stoneware, and once fired, it is safe for holding liquids and food.

 

Participants in our weekly classes will have the chance to work with different stoneware clays, including some that are entirely smooth and others that contain grog (crushed fired clay pieces).​

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What decorative methods are taught

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Those attending one off lessons will be able to decorate all of their pottery pieces with their choice of our wide selection of coloured slips (liquid coloured clay), add textures using tools, stamps and textured rollers, use leaves as a resist (subject to time of year), decorate using 'mocha diffusion', or add glass to the inside of decorative pieces. 

All pieces produced are fired and glazed with a transparent glaze. â€‹

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Weekly potters are taught how to apply an extensive list of decorative techniques including; sgraffito, mishima, mocha diffusion, use of decals, adding glass (which melts in the second firing), adding texture & carving plus using coloured slips, engobes, underglazes and a choice of over 100 glaze colours to add colour and patterns by trailing, overlapping, hand painting, sponging, to name a few!

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To find out more about the different classes please scroll down or book a class using our Online Booking Service

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Classes

  Taster Classes

  • Recommended for those who want to try our hand-building pottery as a one off or before committing to a weekly course

  • One 2.5 hour class for beginners (adults & children aged 17+)

  • Max class size of 6 with individuals signing up & sharing the lesson

  • £48 per individual 

  • Understand how clay can be shaped to form functional or decorative pieces using the ‘pinching’ technique

  • Make up to three small pottery pieces

  • Add texture and decoration 

  • Paint with your choice of a wide range of coloured slips (coloured liquid clay)

  • All pieces are fired by Lucy and glazed in a transparent glaze to make them food safe

  • Collection of pieces after the second firing. Approx 4 weeks after the lesson

  • Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included

  • Special Taster Sessions are also held from time to time - please click on the link below for more info

 5 or 10 Week Courses

  • Recommended for those who want to take up a new relaxing hobby

  •  2.5 hours  at a set time each week for adults aged 17+

  • Ideal for beginners or those with limited experience

  • Max 6 individuals per class 

  • £243 per individual for 5 weeks and £440 for 10 weeks

  • Pinching, coiling & slab building plus sculpture will be taught during the course

  • Each class will be structured to build on your skills, knowledge and use of different decorating techniques including use of slip, underglazes, glazes  & textured items

  • Understand how clay can be shaped to form all kinds of functional or decorative pieces

  • Collection of pieces after the second firing

  • Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included

1:1 or 1:2 Class

  • Recommended for those who want focused guidance from Lucy to hand-build pottery,whether you are a beginner or have some experience

  • Book one or more private 2.5 hour hand building classes (adults & children aged 7+)

  • £82 for a  1:1 lesson

  • £145 for a 1:2 lesson

  • Discuss with Lucy prior to your lesson what pieces you want to make using pinching, coiling, slab building or sculptured pieces

  • Add texture and decoration 

  • Paint with your choice of a wide range of coloured slips (coloured liquid clay) or underglazes and glazes if more than one lesson is booked

  • All pieces are fired by Lucy and glazed in a transparent glaze to make them food safe. 

  • Collection of pieces after the second firing. Approx 4 weeks after the lesson

  • Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included

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Friends/Family/Colleagues Group Sessions

  • Book a fun, relaxing group pottery session with friends, family or work colleagues to give hand-building pottery a go

  • 2.5 hour session with no prior experience necessary 

  • £195 for 3 people

  • £216 for 4 people

  • £245 for 5 people

  • £264 for 6 people

  • Understand how clay can be shaped to form functional or decorative pieces using the ‘pinching’ or 'coiling' technique

  • Make up to three small pottery pieces

  • Add texture and decoration 

  • Paint with your choice of a wide range of coloured slips (coloured liquid clay)

  • All pieces are fired by Lucy and glazed in a transparent glaze to make them food safe

  • Collection of pieces after the second firing. Approx 4 weeks after the lesson

  • Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included

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