Come to one of Kate’s Ceramics Courses or Classes to learn how to throw, hand-build, glaze and decorate your own pots in a relaxed and friendly setting.
Groups will be no larger than four so you will receive lots of personal tuition.
An Introduction to Ceramics
Join Kate and her friend Esther for a 3-hour introduction to ceramics. You will learn how to make pinch pots, hand-build and to throw pots on the wheel. You will be able to choose two of the pots you have made to be bisque-fired and glazed for you.
- Perfect for small groups of friends or a family.
- £65 per person (max 4 people – including coffee and cake).
- P&P extra if you are unable to collect your pots in person.
- Saturday mornings or afternoons by arrangement
Current availability:
- Sat 5th July: 10am – 1pm (full)
- Sat 9th August: 10am – 1pm (full)
- Sat 6th September: 10am – 1pm (4 places available)
- Sat 11th October: 10am – 1pm (3 places available)
- Sat 8th November: 10am – 1pm (4 places available)
Other dates by arrangement.
Please contact us to confirm dates and latest availability, or if you would like to join the waiting list for these courses.
Throwing Lessons
Individual lessons with Kate in her studio, or bring a friend for double the fun!
- One-to-one: £80 (2 hours).
- Two people: £106 (2 hours) / £156 (3 hours).
- Three people: £156 (2 hours) / £216 (3 hours).
- Choose two pots to be bisque-fired and glazed for you.
- P&P extra if you are unable to collect your pots in person.
- Dates and times by mutual agreement.
Eight Week Pottery Course
Join Kate and Esther who will teach you hand-building and throwing techniques in a small group over an 8-week period. The final week will be a raku session.
- All materials included.
- Mornings: 10am – 12.30pm or evenings: 6 – 8.30pm (see below for dates)
- £320 per person
- Max 4 people
- P&P extra if you are unable to collect your pots in person
Current availability:
- Starting Wednesday 21st May 10am – 12.30pm (full)
- Starting Wednesday 21st May 6 – 8.30pm (full)
- Starting Wednesday 24th September 10am – 12.30pm (full)
- Starting Wednesday 24th September 6 – 8.30pm (full)
Please contact us to confirm dates and latest availability, or if you would like to join the waiting list for these courses.
Raku Pottery Course
You will learn how to throw and hand-build your own raku pots, and glaze them in your preferred style. You will also have the opportunity to try horsehair raku.
Session One: throwing and hand-building
Session Two: turning, burnishing and finishing hand-building
Session Three: glazing and decorating pots for raku firing
£170 per person – max 4 people – including coffee and cake each morning
Spring dates:
Course 1: 19th, 20th and 26th March (full)
Course 2: 23rd, 24th and 30th April (full)
Summer dates:
Course 3 (full):
– Weds 27th Aug: 10am – 1pm
– Thurs 28th Aug: 10am – 1pm
– Weds 3rd Sept*: 10am – 2pm
£170 per person – max 4 people – all sessions include coffee and cake
Course 4 (full):
– Weds 27th Aug: 6 – 8.30pm
– Thurs 28th Aug: 6 – 8.30pm
– Weds 3rd Sept*: 6 – 9pm
£150 per person – max 4 people
*Please note: The last session is weather-permitting as we can’t raku in the rain. We may need to rearrange another date for this session.
Other useful information:
- P&P extra if you are unable to collect your pots in person
- Please get in touch if you would like to go on the mailing list for future courses
Custom-made courses for small groups (up to 5 people)
Please get in touch with Kate to discuss your requirements. We can offer you a tailor-made course to suit your group whether it is a family, hen-party, book-club or children’s party.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Have a look through our FAQs here first.
If you still can’t find the answer, please do contact us.
General
I am sorry about that. I do try to reply to people within 24 hours, but I have found that my replies often go into people’s spam. Please check your spam, and message me if I have not replied. (07791 997269)
Yes! I have an Etsy shop where I sell some of my lampbases: https://www.etsy.com/shop/katemarshallceramics/
To see my new work please follow me on Instagram or Facebook, or come and visit me at my studio.
Courses
Yes. The best thing to do is to email me and tell me which kind of course you would like to do, and I will let you know when we have some more dates.
Absolutely. We assume that people have had no experience of playing with clay and take it from there. We work with people on an individual basis to help them make pots.
Yes. As we have a ratio of 2-1 we are able to work with people on an individual basis.
Caring for your pots
All the stoneware pots have been fired to a high temperature (1260 degrees C) and are hard-wearing. They are non-porous and dish-washer safe.
This depends on the type of finish on your pot.
Horsehair Raku:
Use a soft cloth to clean your pot. Your pot has been polished with a thin coat of beeswax to prevent marks from fingers. Some people like to use a floor and tile wax to seal and protect the pot further, which will also make it very shiny.
Green and Blue Copper Raku:
Keep your pot out of strong sunlight. Use a soft cloth to clean your pot. Over time the surface of your pot will change as the sun and air affect the lustre and the copper oxidises. Some people like to prevent this by using a sealant, such as a gloss finish acrylic spray, or a tile sealer.
White and Black Crackle Raku:
Use a soft cloth to clean your pot.
Smoked areas:
The unglazed black areas on raku can become less intense over time. You can use a black stove and grate polish to make them black again.
Raku is not waterproof. If you would like to use your raku pot as a vase, you can either put another container inside it for the water, or use a sealant such as yacht varnish, a satin polyurethane sealant, or a two-part epoxy resin.
Raku is only fired to 1000 degrees C and should not be used for food as it is fragile and porous, making it unhygienic.
Visiting the studio
If you are driving use the postcode BA2 4RJ in your sat nav. We are at number 6.
The studio is approx. 15 mins walk from the bus and train stations. If you are walking, be aware that the studio is on Beechen Cliff. Google maps will take you up a very steep path and through Alexandra Park, back down to the studio. If you are not super fit you might prefer to walk up the Holloway, take the second footpath on the left, opposite the church and to the right of the horses’ trough, up some steps and along the cliff path. This is a gentle climb.
There are parking restrictions in the area until 6pm. You can park for 1 hour free of charge in Alexandra Park, using the parking app there. If you are doing a course, I can put your car on our residents’ parking app for free when you arrive.
No. The best way to see if I am open is to message me. You can also email me to arrange a time to visit. I am generally around as the studio is part of my home, and I always love to talk ceramics with visitors!