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

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 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!

The Two Day Workshop will guide you through the basics of hand building. This 12 hour long course will be split between Saturday and Sunday, from 11:00am to 17:00pm with an hour lunch break 1t 1:30pm on both days. On Saturday, you will be introduced to the material and will begin to build with soft clay cups, bowls or vases form with a selection of techniques that will be demonstrated to you by the instructor. On the second day, once the pieces have had a chance to firm up, you will have a chance to further refine your work and the instructor will introduce you how to apply texture, as well as exploring coloured slips. 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 4-8 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!

Designed for complete beginners, in four weekly evening sessions you will learn the basics of working with clay on the wheel, and sculpturally, culminating in the production of your first wares which will be stoneware gas-fired and glazed with traditional Japanese glazes of your choice, which are designed and produced in-house. We are the only pottery in the southeast which offers these exquisite processes. This course is for two students per session and the cost is £420 per person, including all materials, glazes, protective clothing and gas firings. Courses usually take place on Monday and Thursday evenings.