Crafty Pottery Sessions
What you'll do
Fancy a weekend full of craft, inspiration and fun? Best join Ridgeway Studios for their Crafty Pottery Weekends, because these are pottery experiences you won't want to miss...
Ridgeway Studios offers a relaxed approach to pottery where you can choose to make whatever you fancy in their workshops using the pottery wheel. Experiences are suitable for all levels of abilities - whether you want to master the basics, challenge yourself or give pottery a go for the first time. Get involved, practice pottery wheel throwing, make friends with other aspiring crafters, and get inspired in return!
Once everyone has arrived, you'll be given a health and safety brief before jumping straight into demonstrations. Refreshments are available to customers during the workshop.
Your hosts Meredith and Naomi will begin by teaching you how to throw on the studio's pottery wheels. You'll then split off into groups of four to practice. When you're not on the wheel, you'll be learning how to hand build pottery with stoneware clay. Not a precious moment will be wasted!
Get guided through various techniques - with throwing, you'll learn all about the wheel and other tools used in this process, centering, wheel techniques and cutting off finished pieces. With hand-building discover how to make slabs, join clay using the score and slip technique, how to add texture, decorations, appendages, and more. You're welcome to freestyle throughout the workshop or use some inspiration provided by your hosts.
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 their lovely garden, to ensure plenty of space can be offered for guests. Workshops last three hours, but you're encouraged to take them at your own pace. Refreshments are available to buy, so grab a coffee and cosy up to one of their pottery books on a break.
This experience is focused on learning new skills and finding inspiration - this is why firing isn't included in this package. If you want to have your work fired so you can take it home, your hosts offer a firing and glazing service for £15 which you can opt for at the end of your session - no need to let them know beforehand.
Upcoming dates
What you'll do
Fancy a weekend full of craft, inspiration and fun? Best join Ridgeway Studios for their Crafty Pottery Weekends, because these are pottery experiences you won't want to miss...
Ridgeway Studios offers a relaxed approach to pottery where you can choose to make whatever you fancy in their workshops using the pottery wheel. Experiences are suitable for all levels of abilities - whether you want to master the basics, challenge yourself or give pottery a go for the first time. Get involved, practice pottery wheel throwing, make friends with other aspiring crafters, and get inspired in return!
Once everyone has arrived, you'll be given a health and safety brief before jumping straight into demonstrations. Refreshments are available to customers during the workshop.
Your hosts Meredith and Naomi will begin by teaching you how to throw on the studio's pottery wheels. You'll then split off into groups of four to practice. When you're not on the wheel, you'll be learning how to hand build pottery with stoneware clay. Not a precious moment will be wasted!
Get guided through various techniques - with throwing, you'll learn all about the wheel and other tools used in this process, centering, wheel techniques and cutting off finished pieces. With hand-building discover how to make slabs, join clay using the score and slip technique, how to add texture, decorations, appendages, and more. You're welcome to freestyle throughout the workshop or use some inspiration provided by your hosts.
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 their lovely garden, to ensure plenty of space can be offered for guests. Workshops last three hours, but you're encouraged to take them at your own pace. Refreshments are available to buy, so grab a coffee and cosy up to one of their pottery books on a break.
This experience is focused on learning new skills and finding inspiration - this is why firing isn't included in this package. If you want to have your work fired so you can take it home, your hosts offer a firing and glazing service for £15 which you can opt for at the end of your session - no need to let them know beforehand.
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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 hands or wrists before beginning on the pottery wheel.
Changes happen, don't worry
About Ridgeway Studios
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 Ridgeway Studios 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!
Your 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.
How to get there
What people are saying
An opportunity to be creative with clay with teachers who were friendly and encouraging. Also a supportive and enabling atmosphere. I ended up standing for most of the 3 hours though which meant I felt a bit tired at the end. Thank you.
Naomi and Meredith were both very approachable and knowledgeable, would recommend and may come again :)
Amazing experience, we tried a couple of hand-making clay techniques and pottery wheel for the first time. We were provided with instructions and support along the way. Really enjoyed it and would like to do more pottery in the future
Any questions?
Ask your question directly to Ridgeway Studios.
Upcoming dates
What people are saying
An opportunity to be creative with clay with teachers who were friendly and encouraging. Also a supportive and enabling atmosphere. I ended up standing for most of the 3 hours though which meant I felt a bit tired at the end. Thank you.
Naomi and Meredith were both very approachable and knowledgeable, would recommend and may come again :)
Amazing experience, we tried a couple of hand-making clay techniques and pottery wheel for the first time. We were provided with instructions and support along the way. Really enjoyed it and would like to do more pottery in the future
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