Crafty Pottery: Hand building & wheel throwing
What you'll do
Want to give the pottery wheel a whirl? Give hand building a go? Build your confidence working with clay? Ridgeway Studios' Crafty Pottery workshop ticks all the boxes.
This isn’t a pottery experience you’ll want to miss...
Ridgeway Studios offers a relaxed approach to pottery. Choose to make whatever you fancy in their workshops. They're suitable for all abilities - from complete newbies to confident makers. Get involved, make friends with other crafters, and get inspired in return!
What to expect:
- A three hour pottery workshop where you can try out wheel throwing and hand building - freestyling is encouraged!
- Wheel throwing: your hosts will show you how to throw on the studio pottery wheel. Learn all about the wheel, discover what tools to use and brush up on the best techniques. Find out about centering and how to finish your piece
- Hand building: when you're not on the wheel, learn how to hand build pottery with stoneware clay. Find out how to make slabs, join clay using the score and slip technique, how to add texture, decorations and more
- Get plenty of demonstrations throughout from your hosts
What you need to know:
- You can opt for a Friday evening experience or a Saturday daytime session
- Saturday workshops are taught both inside the studio and outside under a marquee in a lovely garden, to ensure there's plenty of space for guests
- This experience is focused on learning new skills and finding inspiration - firing isn't included in this package
- If you want to have your work fired to take it home, your hosts offer a firing and glazing service for £15. You can opt for at the end of your session, no need to let them know beforehand
Upcoming dates
What you'll do
Want to give the pottery wheel a whirl? Give hand building a go? Build your confidence working with clay? Ridgeway Studios' Crafty Pottery workshop ticks all the boxes.
This isn’t a pottery experience you’ll want to miss...
Ridgeway Studios offers a relaxed approach to pottery. Choose to make whatever you fancy in their workshops. They're suitable for all abilities - from complete newbies to confident makers. Get involved, make friends with other crafters, and get inspired in return!
What to expect:
- A three hour pottery workshop where you can try out wheel throwing and hand building - freestyling is encouraged!
- Wheel throwing: your hosts will show you how to throw on the studio pottery wheel. Learn all about the wheel, discover what tools to use and brush up on the best techniques. Find out about centering and how to finish your piece
- Hand building: when you're not on the wheel, learn how to hand build pottery with stoneware clay. Find out how to make slabs, join clay using the score and slip technique, how to add texture, decorations and more
- Get plenty of demonstrations throughout from your hosts
What you need to know:
- You can opt for a Friday evening experience or a Saturday daytime session
- Saturday workshops are taught both inside the studio and outside under a marquee in a lovely garden, to ensure there's plenty of space for guests
- This experience is focused on learning new skills and finding inspiration - firing isn't included in this package
- If you want to have your work fired to take it home, your hosts offer a firing and glazing service for £15. You can opt for at the end of your session, no need to let them know beforehand
How to get there
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Yuup extras
- Pop-up cafe to buy coffee and hot beverages
- Spacious and clean studio
Facilities
- Adult changing
- WiFi
- Wheelchair accessible
- Refreshments available
- Toilets
- Outdoors
- Parking
COVID-19 guidelines
- Please provide a photo of a lateral flow test taken in the last 24 hours or wear a mask during the workshop
On the day
- There's minimal parking available at the studio, please get in touch if you need a nearby space, if you don't need one there's parking available on Ridgeway Road
- Wear clothes you don't mind getting messy, bring a personal hand towel and scruffs / an apron
- Bring a bottle of water
- Arrive with hair tied back, remember to remove any jewellery on your hands or wrists before beginning on the pottery wheel
- Refreshments are available to buy
Changes happen, don't worry
About Fishponds Pottery at Ridgeway Studios
Fishponds Pottery at Ridgeway Studios was created in 2019. It's run by husband and wife team Max and Finola Thomas. They provide a flexible workspace for art, design and craft workshops. Courses are run throughout the year covering all kinds of making experiences including ceramics, jewellery and printmaking.
At Ridgeway Max and Finola are on a mission to get Bristol crafting again. They aim to make the world of ceramics accessible to all and reignite guests' passion for creativity.
That's why Fishponds Pottery is proud to be relaunching Crafty Pottery Weekends. A great way to reconnect with the community through creativity. Crafty Pottery Weekends offer a relaxed approach to pottery where you can choose to make whatever you fancy. Come and say 'hello', meet the team, grab a coffee and get making!
View more experiences by Fishponds Pottery at Ridgeway StudiosYour hosts
Meredith is one of Ridgeway's technicians. After studying Art and Making at Cardiff Met University, Meredith is well-read in ceramics. Her greatest strengths lie in hand-building - including coil-pots, slab-building and pinch-pots. Meredith runs Crafty Pottery Weekends which she co-hosts with senior technician Naomi. They will guide you through everything you need to know about hand-building so you can unleash your full crafting potential.
Naomi is Ridgeway's senior technician. She's got a Fine Art degree from UWE. Naomi specialises in throwing and is experienced teaching on the wheel. Naomi and co-host Meredith run the Crafty Pottery Weekends. Naomi will reveal the ways of the wheel, she'll also be on hand for any burning crafting questions.
What people are saying
Came on my own, but was made to feel included and welcomed. I had no clue what i was doing but the teaching was very clear, with lots of help throughout the evening.
Facilitators were friendly and supportive, activity was fun and engaging .
A fun evening which flew by. It was great to have a go at the wheel and Naomi was very encouraging and happy to rescue when needed. It's a lovely studio and the team was friendly and welcoming 🙂
Any questions?
Ask your question directly to Fishponds Pottery at Ridgeway Studios.
Upcoming dates
What people are saying
Came on my own, but was made to feel included and welcomed. I had no clue what i was doing but the teaching was very clear, with lots of help throughout the evening.
Facilitators were friendly and supportive, activity was fun and engaging .
A fun evening which flew by. It was great to have a go at the wheel and Naomi was very encouraging and happy to rescue when needed. It's a lovely studio and the team was friendly and welcoming 🙂
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