This Intermediate Ceramic Evening course is ideal for those that have some ceramic experience but would like to learn to develop their ideas over a 10 week period.

Whichever clay discipline you wish to develop and learn experienced potter Jon French and Alex Shimwell will be on hand to help you to progress within this area whether you would like experience in throwing, slabbing, texturing, decorating or firing.

This is an extremely popular course and is limited to 10 spaces per session.

Jon French’s course runs on Monday Evenings from 6.30-8.30pm
Alex Shimwell’s course runs on Wednesday Evenings from 6.30-8.30pm

1 x 12.5kg bag of clay on week 1 (choice of B17C / LF or B17CG) to use for the duration of the course. Further class can be purchased during the course from sister company Valentine Clays at a discount of 6.5%

2 small or 1 medium piece of work per week fired, or 10 small / 4 medium across the span of the course.

Access to a throwing wheel and basic tools

Free parking on-site

Bring your own apron.

Leave 15 minutes within the session time to clean your wheel and area down.

Names are to be clearly marked on pots or stamped to ensure they get fired.

The bottoms of all pots must be sponged to ensure they get fired.

Arrive at 6.30pm, no earlier!

Monday Evenings - Jon French
Jon is a Master Potter of over 37 years.
A master at the pottery wheel and great tutor with teaching methods that are perfect for all abilities.
Jon spent 29 years working for Wedgwood and has quite a following amongst students due to his skills, friendly nature and sense of humour.

Wednesday Evenings - Alex Shimwell.
Alex is a talented ceramicist with technical knowledge that is second to none.
He originally studied ceramic design at Staffordshire University, and has since travelled to Japan, spending time with Numaguchi-San, a 7th generation Jomo ware potter, learning traditional techniques and researching the aesthetic ideas that informed traditional British studio ceramics.

You can read more about our tutors here

Location:
All of our courses will be held at our studio in Fenton, Stoke on Trent.

Equipment provided:
Aprons and towels will be provided for your course.

Ceramic Firings:
Included in the cost is glazing and firing of 2 small or 1 medium pot per session. You can purchase additional pot firings at the end of the workshop. Please note that if you select pots to be fired, they are chargeable regardless of if they make it through the process or if you change your mind once the process has started. Please allow enough time for your creations to be completed. Please also note that with any type of ceramics there is always a risk that your item might not make it through the firing process.

Payment Terms:
Course fees are payable at the time of booking. We reserve the right to refuse attendance on the course if payment is not received prior to the course date.

Name transfer:
You can transfer your place on the course at any time prior to the course start. No charge will be made for this providing there is no change to the course or date.

Cancellations by you:
Should you need to cancel your booking your cancellation must be received in writing at least 14 days prior to start of the course. A full refund will be made of any fees paid. We are unable to process a refund for cancellations received less than 14 days prior to the event.

Cancellations by us:
Should it be necessary due to reasons beyond our control to cancel an event then our liability is limited to a full refund of the course fee paid.

Transfering Course Dates:
Should you need to transfer your booking date you will need to contact us in writing at least 14 days prior to the event. Within this period we will be able to rearrange your course date. We are unable to change your date when notice is received less than 14 days prior to the event.

Missed Sessions:
If you have booked on to one of our courses and miss a session then this session can not be refunded or transferred to another course of the same type.

Course Suitability:
Whilst we are happy to offer advice for each course, which is for guidance only, it remains the responsibility of the delegate to decide whether a course is deemed suitable for them. All bookings are taken subject to these conditions.

Photography Disclaimer:
Please note that on occasion photography and/or filming may take place during a course, workshop or event and material from this may be used publicly for marketing or social media purposes. Parents/carers of children are required to complete a photography disclaimer form – please speak to a member of staff regarding this.

Ceramic Firings:
Please allow time for your work to be fired following your course, we will be in touch via email to inform you when the work is ready. Please also note that with any type of ceramics there is always a risk that your item might not make it through the firing process.

Gift Cards:
Our gift cards are valid for 12 months from the date stated on the gift card (after this date the gift card is no longer valid). You can redeem your gift card online with the voucher number against the specified course. Booking the course is subject to availability and we recommend booking your place as soon as possible. Details of the course, age recommendations, and duration are a guide only and are subject to change. Our gift cards cannot be exchanged for cash and are non-refundable.

Please note that due to Bank Holidays and our Annual Shutdown in April and May, the Monday class will not be running on the following days:

Monday 1st April 2024
Monday 6th May 2024
Monday 27th May 2024

This will mean the course starting 18th March 2024 will end on 10th June 2024

Please note that due to our Annual Shutdown in April, the Wednesday class will not be running on the following day:

Wednesday 3rd April 2024

This will mean the course starting 20th March 2024 will end on 29th May 2024