Teacher

Sak Beh Pottery

117 reviews

Sak Beh Studio Pottery was founded by Tessa Robinson, who lives and works in London. Her idea was to create a comfortable, homey place to work and be creative. Situated in a very busy and central location, just off Stoke Newington High Street, the studio is a drop of calm in a very fast moving world.

Tessa trained in Fine Art, specialising in sculpture (modelling in clay). On completion of a three year Post Graduate Course at the Royal Academy of Arts, Tessa set up a studio in Hackney. The transition from sculptor to potter came many years later whilst doing doctoral research in Maya archaeology at UCL. Inspired by Maya ceramic art, and in particular the pots which combined sculpted and painted imagery, Tessa moved from research back to making. After attending courses in pottery and taking up a membership at a London pottery studio, she set up Sak Beh Pottery and is now a full-time potter and maker.

Tessa's works are informed by both her Fine Art training and her research into Ancient Maya ceramic art. The phrase 'Sak Beh' can be found on Ancient Maya monuments where it refers to the Milky Way as an ancestral path or road as well as the physical roads which connect people to places. In keeping with its namesake, Sak Beh Pottery is envisaged as a place for community interaction within the context of a creative journey.

Art

Pottery And Mosaics

Reviews(117)View all reviews

Sak Beh Studio is a beautiful space and Gabby is a lovely and really helpful and encouraging teacher. Great way to spend an evening..will be coming back !

I really enjoyed the workshop. The teacher was great, really enthusiastic, interested in what we were making and made sure we all ended up with something to take back from the session. I will definitely recommend this class! 5 star from me!

Such a lovely class with a passionate and talented teacher. The studio space was so inspiring and the class size was perfect. I'm totally addicted and can't wait to go back!

Really informative, fun class - can recommend!

Reviews

Sak Beh Studio is a beautiful space and Gabby is a lovely and really helpful and encouraging teacher. Great way to spend an evening..will be coming back !

Such a lovely class with a passionate and talented teacher. The studio space was so inspiring and the class size was perfect. I'm totally addicted and can't wait to go back!

Really informative, fun class - can recommend!

Really enjoyed my this workshop. Each person had their our own station (no sharing/split time), we learned a little about pottery and clay, as well as the techniques we would be using. We watched the teacher making a pot and then we applied what we learned to our piece. At the end, everyone helped clean the stations so we also learned about the cycle of clay and how you can reclaim it, as well as the care you should have with silica dust. The studio also offers classes if you're keen on that after the workshop. Can't wait to pick up my piece!

Had a great time! Rosie was very patient. She talked through all the steps - excellent particularly for beginners!

Fantastic instructor and beautiful studio. The beginners workshop I attended was really enjoyable with a lovely vibe. The instruction and modelling was perfect for absolute beginners. It’s a bit of a shame that the pots are glazed for you and that you’re only allowed to keep one - I hadn’t realised this beforehand - but do understand given time constraints. I’d love to come back for more sessions!

Such a nice instructor ! She went though everything so thoroughly and helped when needed but also allowed you to just have fun with it. Perfect for people who have never done something like it! X

It was our first time throwing and we loved it! Rosie is a really amazing teacher, she talks through everything so clearly and gives lots of help if you're not so confident. Highly recommended!

My first time throwing--we learnt all the important stages and I really enjoyed the process! Can't wait to pick up my pot.

Really good fun. Great teacher and nice studio 👏

This workshop was honestly one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done in a while! It offered the perfect amount of teaching and hands-on practical experience so that you could get use to throwing in the time provided. I would 100% recommend it to anyone thinking about trying this art form out!

Great way to try out throwing. Mallory was super helpful and knowledgable. Would recommend if you want to give pottery a go

Amazing experience! Went for my birthday with my friends and the instructor was so friendly and professional! Made it so much more fun. Highly recommend

Good class, with detailed instructions and lots of one-on-one teaching time. Very clean space!

Rosie was lovely and very patient with all of us! Happy with what we made and can’t wait to visit again

We had a great time on our 3 hour course. The setting it very relaxing, clean and inviting. The teacher was very informative and helped when we needed it but also let us make mistakes so we could learn how to rectify then. Really enjoyed it.

The workshop was very enjoyable and informative. We gained a good understanding of how the studio works and the process of making pots on the wheel. The studio is absolutely lovely and the teacher was great. In future, I would suggest that the class has fewer students or that the teacher has some support as the class ran-over a little and sometimes people were sitting waiting for help.

The workshop was fun but for beginners, having only one instructor was not enough. We also spent nearly an hour being spoken at. I think this is an incredibly long time and took a lot of the workshop. Maybe smaller classes and actually let people know when their items are ready. I've been checking the site and my class date isn't even on there.

Lovely class size and lovely host, relaxing and welcoming and really well taught! Would highly recommend.

I absolutely loved the workshop and can’t wait to sign up for another class

It was an excellent class really well organised and clear information and social distancing with PPE.We got to learn how to wedge and throw two pots and had step by step help on the way I fully recommend it !

Had a good time but felt quite rucmshed doing both throwing and hand building in the short time. Would have preferred to work for the whole time on just one of the activities and really get a feel for it. Also collection times for picking up work are not particularly flexible and difficult for someone working full time in another area.

Good, Clean Facilities

Okay.

An amazing class with a super dedicated teacher. The studio space was very pretty and was able to pick things up really easily! I'm a newbie to throwing but I can't wait to go back!!

I have now done this taster lesson twice. Loved it! I'm hoping to make this a proper hobby :) Lovely teachers who welcome you with a cuppa. Beautiful new studio and and great tutoring. Highly recommended

Thoroughly enjoyed this taster session - the studio is beautiful and Mallory was such a brilliant instructor. She was so passionate about ceramics it was impossible not to share her enthusiasm, and she was calm, patient, and supportive throughout. I unreservedly recommend this class!

A really enjoyable session. My husband and I thought that it was well organised. Rosie provides clear instructions and demonstrations - she made sure she gave everyone some individual time to help with their pottery. I was really pleased with the items I made. The venue was lovely: clean, bright and well equipped.

Had such an amazing class with Malory,she was so thorough and really explained everything so well. A great first experience with Obby in a beautiful studio

Fantastic value for money. Session started promptly with a health and safety briefing and instructions about throwing the clay. Then we picked up our clay, choose a wheel and got started. It was a great learning environment and we were actively supported and instructed throughout.. I was very happy when I picked up my two pots, which had been fired and glazed. I would highly recommend this taster session.

Such a great class and I hope to do more in the future , absolutely brilliant teachers !

Rosie is very friendly and welcoming. She is explained very clearly all the process from start to finish to gives us instructions on what to do. She also made sure everyone got some help when needed. I would have wanted also to paint my piece after the firing, but looking forward for other sessions when that will be possible. Rosie makes pottery throwing achievable for everyone!

Very good class which I really enjoyed. I will recommend to others.

Brilliant afternoon spent learning about pottery crafting and main techniques to shape and throw. Quite a challenge but the instructor as fab! Was such a laugh and would totally do it again :)

Great class, very enjoyable! Malory was a very detailed instructor. It would have been great though if Sak Beh had a few pictures of what you wanted to achieve at each step to keep you on track (also one step - centring - wasn't on the board of steps). Otherwise great session and really appreciated the feedback along the way! Thank you :)

The class was great! For the first 45-60 minutes we were shown the concepts and basics of throwing in a clear and comprehensive manner. We then spent about an hour and a half having a go ourselves. Gabby, the instructor, was friendly, welcoming, helpful, inclusive and gave clear direction while allowing room for creativity and error. It was exactly what I was looking for from a first session and has spurred me on to take up a five week course. Thanks!

The course is was fun and I learned a lot. The teacher was very passionate and helpful. I'll definetely go back!

Such an enjoyable class, our instructor Gabbi was an amazing instructor. I will definitely be back for more lessons in the future.

I took my mum for mothers day and she really enjoyed the experience too! we can't wait to go pick up our creations and see how they turned out.

Great space and great class!

Was back for my 3rd class, and again was so much fun. Tessa is a great teacher!

Gabby is a wonderful teacher! She has an extensive technical knowledge which allows for a very informative and insightful throwing experience. You do not feel rushed within the timeframe and are able to ask questions to get the most out of the workshop. It was a relaxed environment with no judgement and the studio is beautifully set up and organised, uncluttered and bright - a perfect creative atmosphere and I will definitely be coming back! Thank you to Gabby and Tessa for having me.

Such a lovely and supportive teacher! The number of students are perfect so everyone has equal amount of attention. The studio space is very very clean and comfortable. Go for it!

Class was overbooked and I was not given any notice or cancellation. I showed up as booked but was told I could not attend. This is the second time something like this has happened. I can't comment on the teaching.

Such a great class. Delightful studio with wonderful facilities. Our teacher was brilliant- so patient and inspiring and clearly a true love for clay and ceramics.

Great workshop, beautiful studio, incredibly useful tuition. Will come back!

Really great class and helpful instructor.

Lovely studio! Very informative on basics and had a great time on the wheel as a beginner. Would definitely recommend!

Great taster experience, and good introduction to the fundamentals/basics. The instructor was very friendly and clear in her instructions, and the small group makes the experience all the more fun and engaging!

The class was very fun and the teachers worked were very knowledge and helpful.

What a beautiful studio, the photos do not do it justice. Had a few problems with too many folks showing up for the class which the owner was not able to manage well and instead blamed Obby. Was an incredibly awkward start. The instructions and class were great, although the wheel throwing was more difficult that I thought it would be! The instructor was super hands on and helpful and was able to make some pots. They don't send you any reminders when your pots are done, you have to check their website for this - don't forget!

Great introduction to wheel spinning. Would've liked better timekeeping!

Really great workshop, the studio is warm, clean, and cozy! Would highly recommend to anyone, found throwing really hard and satisfying at the same time.

Great teacher who taught us a lot of techniques during a 3hours pottery session. Pretty studio where they respect all materials and are eco-friendly. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested and wants to learn more!

Really enjoyed it. Thank you!

It was a fun afternoon and the instructor was very knowledgeable but I would have liked more time actually playing with the clay as we only got two attempts on the wheel.

It was a very lovely experience. The teacher gave us very clear explanations. I really did appreciate the fact that the place was absolutely spotless. I only wish we could have done more trial by our self at the end (and a little less cleaning- even if i don't mind at all eheh :) ) I do highly recommend it! See you soon!

It was so much fun! we learned the basics and were able to keep the piece we loved. Also loved that they taught us about the importance of mindfulness with clay, making sure we don't waste it as we wash our hands in the sink.

It was really interesting and relaxing.

A fantastic way to get into throwing- my first experience and one I'd love to try again. We learnt the theory and tried out each step, a wonderful way to spend a sunday afternoon!

A brilliant workshop in a lovely environment with a great and encouraging teacher.

Eloise was a great instructor and the studio is really cool and neat. The theory/practice ratio was good and the effort they put in the pieces after is impressive. Can't wait to pick up my final piece!

I never expected to be able to actually throw a piece! So happy with what I made. The leader of the class was so nice and helpful and the studio was lovely

Lots of fun, great teacher and we’ll definitely be back

The instructor was intimidating, every time I made a mistake she would say that “well this is not good because you’ve done this wrong again”. It made me feel insecure and useless as it was my first time doing it. Also, the class ended 30minutes earlier that stated. I was surprised that we could only take 1 of our creations home and an additional £3.50 will be charged if u want to take more than that. I have seen many other places that allows us to take 4 of our pieces home for free. Not worth £50 for the service and the fact that it was less than 3 hours.

I can't rate the experience this time as we were not able to participate. I had booked to attend the class with a friend but there was something wrong with the booking system and we were turned away at the door. We received a refund but the class was booked far in advance and it was disappointing not to be able to take part in the class as we had travelled to get there.

Attended with friends. Was a fun two hours we made two pots and picked them up a few weeks later. Great if you have had no experience.

Maybe not a great class for beginners.

I really enjoyed this workshop! It was informative and great fun. The class was nice and small so we all had a chance to learn and get tips from the teacher, who offered clear guidance when needed but didn't interfere. I'd definitely recommend it for a fun afternoon of trying something new!

Great course! Very thorough instructions from a very lovely, patient teacher, who helped all of us on the course throw some really quite impressive (for beginners!) mugs. bowls and vases on the wheel. Highly recommend!

Really enjoyed the class and the teacher was very helpful and thorough in explaining the whole process.

There was a lot of solid time in the wheel. I thoroughly enjoyed the class. Be aware however that there isnt an opportunity to put handles on your cups unless you take the 6 or 12 week course.

Had a brilliant morning workshop learning to throw pottery. Very friendly and knowledgable teacher, and a beautiful studio to work in. Had time to make 3 pieces x some better than others!! Would 100% recommend the class.

We had a great teacher; it was extremely interesting to learn about pottery. The workshop was engaging and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in wheel throwing.

I really enjoyed the work shop, Tessa is a great teacher, helpful and knowledgable. Will definitely go back!

Really enjoyable and therapeutic. Tessa is a great teacher!

The studio is really clean and everything is in place :) The teacher was good in explaining all the process step by step by as there are a lot of information and details to take in mind, time goes fast during the theory part. I believe should be added an extra 30 min. to have more time to dedicate to practice, otherwise nothing to say! I look forward collecting my pieces!

Great environment. Great teacher, very patient and gave us all individual help as well as letting us just get on with it ourselves. Would highly recommend it.

This course was just perfect. Very relaxed, super informative and our instructor was brilliant

The workshop was wonderful! Everything was explained clearly and in detail from start to finish and because of the size of the workshop each attendee is given a lot of time to be explained how to do things or why things are going wrong etc. - will definitely be coming back!

We had a lovely time. Really clear explanations, we made 2 pieces during the classe

Fantastic class. Eloise was a great teacher - gave really clear instructions, was very patient and made the class really fun. The 3 hours whizzed by and I learned loads. Would thoroughly recommend the class for any beginner or improver, and I'm considering going back for a longer course.

Great class and the instructor was helpful and very friendly!

Great workshop and teacher! It was just a bit difficult to collect the artwork. But we found a solution.

Great workshop, a lot of explaining at the beginning and cleaning at the end, allows for minimal time on the wheel. It would be useful if there was less time allocated to cleaning so more time could be spent on the wheel. Also it would be better if they were able to email us to let us know when the items are ready for collection. All in all a great workshop that I would recommend.

This was a brilliant introduction to the basics of wheel throwing. We had lots of time on the wheel and everything was demonstrated really well. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

:) very good class

It was great fun and an amazing teacher. Definitely feel inspired to keep going :)

It was the first time throwing and I really enjoyed it! The tutor was very friendly and explained everything thoroughly. A great experience and definitely spurred me on to do more!

A really wonderfully well-run class in a beautiful studio! We had a great time, learnt loads and managed to make a collection of little bowls to take home! Thank you so much, we will be returning!

I really enjoyed the class, the teacher was very patient and explained everything really well and was very knowledgeable. The class was paced well and good value for money, I would definitely do another workshop to build on what I learnt!

So fun and really informative. Helped refresh my pottery skills and helped me with gaps in my knowledge. Everyone was really friendly, felt safe with everything going on with Covid and the space is so beautiful. Will hopefully go back soon :) Thank you!

A wonderful experience.

I had an amazing and very special experience at the taster class in this studio. Tessa is a very generous and kind person, organised and clear on her instructions. I was able to make my first pot with a lid and some really unique details. I then spent the rest of the workshop painting a beautiful bowl that she had prepared for all students. I will certainly go back regularly and sign up to the full course. I highly recommend this place/

Such good value for money and a seriously enjoyable class with really nice teachers!

Great space and teachers. It'd be nice to have more time to make mistakes and learn on the wheel and with hand crafting, but as an introductory taster it was perfect. A bit crowded, and a bit of a scramble during the clean up, but still really worthwhile. Left me wanting to do more more more! Can't wait to pick up our finished pieces :-D i'd do another here for sure

Really well taught session and good amount of time on both the throwing and hand moulding. Could easily have spent another hour there!

Really enjoyable course in a beautiful studio. Very good introduction for beginners as you get to do both the throwing and the pinch pot, and you get something to take away at the end. Well supported and would recommend!

Had a really great class - small size and very friendly teachers. Lovely studio!

Really great pottery class especially for the price! Beautiful little studio as well.

I bought this as a gift for my friend and she loved it! She thought the space was really inviting, the teacher engaging and informative. She liked the balance of pinching and throwing techniques. She could've said all of this purely to make me think she enjoyed her gift, but she's not one for lying and kept me updated with pictures.

Great friendly class, lovely environment. Would’ve preferred to spend more time on the wheel as we were rushed and had to clean afterwards. Otherwise lovely set up.

Thoroughly enjoyable taster class. As someone who is a complete novice at pottery throwing I’m now really keen to develop the skill.

Amazing course and well worth it even if you have no artistic bone in your body. Our teacher was patient, passionate and gave very comprehensive instructions and demonstrations. We were shown the entire process from preparing the clay to throwing a useful mug/vase/bowl (or two!) and it was so much fun and super rewarding to learn a new skill. Highly recommend!

Fantastic afternoon doing something completely different. Teachers were great and we achieved a lot in the time available Thank you

We ended up being alone in the class, we loved it and we definitely got the pottery bug :)

This is my second class I’ve booked with Sak Beh pottery studio ... 5 week throwing course is amazing experience , You learn so much , truly enjoyed every minute of it 🙏🏻 Tessa is a great teacher and I’m already looking forward doing some more .

The studio is the cleanest I've seen; small class size; a lot of creative freedom; and thoughtful instruction. It was a very personable experience. I highly recommend this course to get the foundations of the full process.

Excellent work environment. Clear and focused teaching technique across the five weeks. Outstanding support from the teacher and the technician. First class modelling of work practice. Great atmosphere.

Great to get to see and experience every stage of the process! Tessa is great.

The course was my second throwing experience, but the first one so in depth. Tessa is a good and patient teacher. She balances 1-2-1 time and group explanations very well. I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to pick up my creations!

The course was well planned and organised. We were able to move onto the throwing very quickly and enjoy success early on. Highly recommended.

I have only had my first session, but it was fantastic! Great teacher and lots of time to practice :)

Better than expected even. Really friendly, teacher and other potters. Didn't need any experience and so satisfying building something to be proud of in 2 hours. The teacher was patient and had time for everyone. Learnt a lot and cannot wait to collect my sculptured pot after firing.