Stoneware Pottery Workshop in Northumberland

What better way to enhance your time in Northumberland than visiting the beautiful Ford & Etal Estate and taking part in a pottery workshop at Heatherslaw.

Pottery is arguably the oldest industrial process that humans have practiced, and it remains a vibrant cultural and artistic pursuit across the globe. The types of clay, the methods of making, the glazes and firing methods, the uses and purposes of the finished pieces - all serve to make it an absorbing and life-affirming process, and definitely something where there is always more to learn.

Join this three hour workshop, suitable for absolutely everyone, where you will work with stoneware clays to create your own enduring masterpieces. Hand building remains the overlooked older sibling of the flashier wheel thrown pot, but it is an ideal place to learn for anyone wishing to play with clay. The session will involve a brief introduction to some basic methods and rules for safe working in the Studio, followed by plenty of time for you to discover your inner potter. It could be a vase, a mug, a candle holder, a sculpture ... if you can imagine it, we will do our best (together) to make it happen.

After the three hours are up, your work will stay at the studio where it will be dried, fired, glazed and re-fired your work. Then you are welcome to return to the studio to collect it, or have it posted on afterwards. The whole drying-glazing-firing process could take up to a month, so please be patient. That said, what better way is there to build memories, create something for a special someone and be reminded of your time in the studio.

For this workshop there is no set agenda - if you bring the enthusiasm and imagination, I will provide all the materials and tools needed to create something unique, bespoke and wonderful.

The number of participants for each workshop is limited to six, to allow equal access to support, tools and tuition.

A word of warning - the kiln Gods can be fickle, and despite doing everything possible, some pieces will fail, crack or blow up (!) in the kiln. There are no guarantees in pottery, not even for seasoned potters.

A second word of warning - working with pottery can be hugely addictive. You have been warned!

My personal journey into pottery was through evening classes in Edinburgh, where I quickly found I was absorbed and addicted by the tactile connection you can make with clay. I also quickly found that it worked wonders improving my mental wellbeing, providing a creative outlet, a process to focus on, and a distraction from the busyness of modern life. I firmly believe that pottery can help anyone find calm and focus in a restless and demanding world.

The Studio is housed on the first floor of Ford Forge at Heatherslaw, an old timber loft that houses a making/teaching space, a drying & kiln room, a small shop/gallery and storage areas. Nearby are many attractions and places to walk, shop and eat; how about a neighbouring Narrow-guage Railway (that runs to Etal Castle and back), a working flour mill, a heavy horse centre, a micro-brewery, or a Riverside Tearoom?

This isn't a purpose built studio - it is a lovingly re-purposed agricultural building. Please note that access to the stduio is only via a set of external stone steps, and the nearest toilets are located two minutes away across the river.

There is currently no heating in the studio so as we creep ever closer to the colder winter months, please ensure you wrap up warm, and remember to bring an old shirt, apron or similar if you are worried about getting covered in clay.

PLEASE wear sufficient clothing for the cold, and bring a flask if you feel the need.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE - our workshops are competitively priced to be affordable and inclusive, and the fee covers all materials, tuition, glaze and firings. This is based on a fair-useage policy of participants making up to two mug-sized pieces (or equivalent) during a session, alongside their starter thumb pot.

If you are a prolific producer of pottery, there will be an additional charge that we can negotiate (but will be at least £5 per piece).

This is because of increased quanitites of materials, glaze, more space needed in the kiln and additional time required to complete the final pieces.

And finally - There is ample free parking at Ford, at Heatherslaw and at Etal. Ravn Clay sits at the heart of the Estate, which also offers camping, glamping, B&Bs and guests houses. And there’s plenty more to do and see while you are here -

• Heatherslaw Light Railway
• Etal Castle (English Heritage)
• Heatherslaw Mill
• Hay Farm Heavy Horse Centre
• Lady Waterford Hall
• Flodden Battlefield
• Loads of little eateries, pubs and shops etc
• Spectacular scenery, walking and countryside

See www.ford-and-etal.co.uk for more details