Since the Great Pottery Throwdown appeared on UK television interest in the craft has understandably booomed. Most towns will nowadays have somewhere you can go to, or at least get on their waiting list, while you wait for a space! But pottery classes are often crowded places. I've frequently seen rooms with at least a dozen people, often more, struggling to get some attention from a harrassed instructor. If you want to use a wheel its often the case that there aren't enough to go round and you have to wait your turn. Getting work glazed and fired seems to be a further problem and the wait for it to be returned can be long.

This is all probably fine when you start but once you get serious about our wonderful craft you'll probably soon want better. You may be thinking about your own space to work in - maybe your own wheel and perhaps a kiln - you'll certainly want a good level of personal attention to help you overcome blockages and to really understand everything about working with clay and glazes.

I can provide this 'next stage' level of tuition and support. Now into my ninth decade I am at a stage in life where I am keen to pass on a lifetime of knowledge to a small number of committed students. I was fortunate to have been trained on the renowned, but sadly now closed, Harrow Studio Pottery course and graduated from there with a ceramics degree (University of Westminster). Prior to that I had been working with clay since 1995 and a collector of ceramics since the early 1960's.

The workshop is equipped with 2 electric wheels, 3 electric kilns and a gas kiln, an extruder, a slab roller, and most equipment and materials to be found in a small scale professional studio pottery. Electric wheels are also sometimes available for hire by current students for practice at home. The outside undercover space provides two 'top-hat' raku kilns and a spray-booth for glazing.

Between 2008 and 2025, over 400 ceramicists were trained at our specialist alternative firing workshops and, whilst these are no longer generally available, I can now offer general tuition, support, mentoring, and advice for intermediate potters wishing to hone their knowledge and skills in any area of ceramics - including setting yourself up to sell, establishing a studio and obtaining equipment, approaching galleries, and showing at fairs. You can also tailor a private workshop for yourself or your group.

Tuition is tailored to meet individual needs and, depending on my own schedule, can be during the day, early evening, or at weekends. Most people come to improve their throwing skills with a few also exploring hand-building methods such as coiling or slabbing. You will work on your own or on suggested projects and as you progress you will also learn about firing regimes, glaze technology including making your own glazes, and experience raku firing. My role is to help you achieve your objectives. There are usually just 2 students at any one time who usually come for a session once a fortnight. You are very welcome to visit my workshop to discuss your needs and view the facilities.

For those with no experience, who just want to have a go on the potter's wheel, it is possible to book a 'taster' throwing session. These are fun experiences lasting two hours and have been very popular - often purchased as birthday/anniversary presents (gift certificates are available). (Did you know that pottery is a traditional 9th wedding anniversary gift?) You will have your own wheel to work on and each person can have two items bisque-fired for collection at a later date.

You may just wish to use clay as part of a therapy to escape the day-to-day stresses of life with no particular pressure to achieve but just to have a confidential and safe space where you can lose yourself in the process and, if you wish, be listened to. My background as a local authority Chief Officer and a former trainer of Samaritan's volunteers, as well as being a listening volunteer, provides much empathetic experience in this area

Please contact me if you would like to discuss further