Top 10 Best Handbuilding classes, courses, learnings kits and gifts in the UK

Join us for this exciting tester workshop giving you a glimpse into ceramic hand-building and surface decoration! No previous experience needed. In this session, you will: Learn to roll a slab of clay and to decorate it by imprinting real botanicals. Learn how to use a plaster mould to shape you slab. Create a functional, unique ring dish or incense holder for your home or to gift. (Your instructor will explain how to make adjustments for the different uses.) All materials and tools will be provided and firings are included. This is a single-session workshop and your creations will need to dry and be fired to be ready for collection after 3 to 4 weeks. Your item will have a transparent glaze finish applied by your instructor before the second firing. Reserve your spot now!

Join us for this exciting tester workshop giving you a glimpse into ceramic hand-building and surface decoration! No previous experience needed. In this session, you will: Learn to roll a slab of clay and decorate it using stencils and coloured clay slips. Select a design from a range of ready-made stencils or make your own. Create four stunning patterned coasters. You also have the option to use them as tiles or display them as wall art! (Your instructor will explain how to make adjustments for the different uses.) All materials and tools will be provided and firings are included. This is a single-session workshop and your creations will need to dry and be fired to be ready for collection after 3 to 4 weeks. Your tiles will have a transparent glaze finish applied by your instructor before the second firing. Reserve your spot now!

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, why not enjoy your breakfast out of your handmade Common Ground set? With this course, we hope each piece will bring you joy and help you start your day out right! During this one-off class, students will learn the basics of hand-building and go home with 2 pieces. In this two hour workshop, you will be guided through the pinch pot and coiling technique to make your breakfast set. This is a great introduction to hand-building with clay and is just enough time to gain an understanding of the material and make something you’ll be really proud of. What’s to Hand: You will be provided with clay for your set. You’ll be guided through the techniques. Once you have your shape ‘down to a T’ it's time to let your creativity run free! To ensure a relaxing and rewarding experience for all, the classes are kept to a minimum, 10 people per class. After the session, you will leave your pieces at the studio and they will be processed for you i.e glaze and fire in their kiln. Yout pieces will be dipped in a beautiful snow-white glaze. They should take about 3-4 weeks to process and you will be notified when they being shipped.

Come join us for a historical ceramics class where build your very own Mycenaean grill! Learn the techniques and history behind how the ancient Mycenaean civilisations built their grills, while also creating a functional and beautiful grill of your own. Sorrel will guide you through the process of hand-building your stoneware grill using a variety of hand-building techniques such as slab-building and coiling. You will have the opportunity to explore your creativity and personalise your grill with unique designs and patterns. This workshop is perfect for anyone interested in history, ceramics, or cooking, and is suitable for all skill levels. The Workshop will last 3 hours and you will be required to return to the studio at a later date (approx. 2-3 weeks) to collect your tiles once they've been fired in the kiln. The group will be limited to six people

Pottery and plants, what a great combination! In this two and a half hour workshop you will learn how to form a small round dish and also make a rectangular soapdish. An amazing pattern can be added by using fresh foliage. If you wish there will be a change to add coloured underglaze to the leaves. The pots will be dried , bisque fired and glaze fired by the tutor, ready for you to pick up a few weeks later.

In this fun introductory class you will get familiar with the basics of handbuiliding and learn what it is like to have a go at making a mug. There is a maximum of 10 people who attend each class. You will be able to start learning the introductory techniques of handbuilding with clay and have a go at making your own form after having watched the teacher demonstrate the process to you. You will keep a pot, which will fire and glaze for you

The Tea Set One Day Workshop will guide you through the basics of hand building. If this is your first time working with clay, this is a brilliant way to be introduced to clay as a material. You will begin your session by handling soft clay by rolling out coils to later use to make the sugar bowl and two tea cups. During the second half of the session, your instructor will demonstrate how to use the slab roller compress clay to long sheets that can be cut and shaped to create the tray for your tea set. For those who are more experienced, you are very welcome and we will explore the techniques you find most suited to your aims. We will then help you improve your skills and aim for those forms you wish to pursue. The course allows you to keep 5 pots per student, including one tray, one sugar bowl, two tea cup and a creamer. If you do wish to keep further pots, you can pay £10 per extra vessel directly on the website under the ‘extra pot payment’ tab. This fee is to cover the clay, firings and glazing. We do however encourage students to be as critical of their work as possible and only keep what they know they will use, or is going to sit proudly somewhere to look at, as we want to aim to be as environmentally friendly as possible and clay can only be recycled pre their firings, but not after!

The Vase One Day Workshop will guide you through the basics of hand building. If this is your first time working with clay, this is a brilliant way to be introduced to clay as a material. You will begin your session by handling soft clay by rolling out coils to later use to make a pot of your choice. During the second half of the session, your instructor will demonstrate how to use the slab roller compress clay to long sheets that can be cut and shaped to create larger scale work. For those who are more experienced, you are very welcome and we will explore the techniques you find most suited to your aims. We will then help you improve your skills and aim for those forms you wish to pursue. The course allows you to keep 5 pots per student (size-dependent), if you do wish to keep further pots, you can pay £10 per extra vessel directly on the website under the ‘extra pot payment’ tab. This fee is to cover the clay, firings and glazing. We do however encourage students to be as critical of their work as possible and only keep what they know they will use, or is going to sit proudly somewhere to look at, as we want to aim to be as environmentally friendly as possible and clay can only be recycled pre their firings, but not after!

This course is for complete beginners or those wanting to improve their hand building skills. 4 ssessions of 3 hours During the sessions you will learn how to make a mug, a plate and a bowl and explore various coloured slip decoration techniques. The work will then be bisque fired and glaze fired ready for you collect a few weeks after from the studio. All materials and firings are included in the cost Small classes, Hackney studio, friendly, relaxed atmosphere.