Group Handbuilding & Throwing Experience – £55pp
Our 3 hour group handbuilding and throwing experience, based in our studio in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, is a fun and relaxing way to spend some time with your friends.
During your experience you will get to try 2 different pottery techniques – handbuilding and wheel throwing. The handbuilding project will last the majority of your session, with most of the group gathered around a table making their pieces. Throughout the handbuilding project, you will take it in turns to pause your making and have a go at making a simple form on the pottery wheel.
As a group you can choose to make tealight holders, cylinders or Christmas mugs for your handbuilding project (please see photos below). You will each make your own piece, decorate it however you want and choose a colour for it to be glazed in. If there is time, you may also be able to make your own hanging decorations or coasters, which can be decorated in a variety of colours.
Suitable for groups of 4 to 6 adults of all ages and abilities.
Cylinders
There are three sizes of cylinder to choose from which can be used in different ways -e.g. plant pot, pen pot and vase. Cylinders are made by rolling out sheets of clay, cutting out a base and the side and then joining them together. Cylinders can be decorated in a variety of ways, allowing you to decorate them however you want and make them unique.
Tealight Holders
Tealight holders are made by using our hands to pinch two balls of clay into two tall bowls. The bowls are then joined together by the rim and shaped with a wooden paddle into a cone. Once shaped, an opening is made and the tealight can be pierced to create unique lighting effects when it in use. They can also be decorated with stamps, impression rollers or carving if you wish.
Christmas Mug
Design your own Christmas Mug using coils of clay. Coiled objects are made by rolling out snakes of clay and then coiling them around and around in circles to create a cylinder. We then smooth the coils all together and attach a handle. They can then be decorated with different colours, stamps and additions to make them festive and unique.
Jess was a star. She was patient, very informative, she offered support and help without taking over.
Her studio has the most amazing view of the Beacons and on the glorious day we were it was a real treat. We both came away having made two items now waiting for them to go through the kiln.
Bought a voucher for my mum so we could make memories together in 2024. Jess and Chris were lovely hosts. It’s so nice to see a bond between a mum and daughter. We had a few giggles during the evening. Made several items, very productive class. Enjoyed every minute. THANK YOU!
Important Information:
All your pieces will be delivered to you at a later date once they have been glazed and fired. Within the group, as standard, you will need to choose 2 delivery addresses for you pieces to be delivered to. If you need to add additional delivery addresses, there will be a £5 postage and packaging charge per address, which can be applied upon booking.
Upon booking you can choose to pay either a deposit of £55 - which will hold your group's booking and secure one person's place - or, you can pay the full amount upfront for the number of people selected. If you choose to pay the deposit you will be sent individual payment links for all the other group members, which can then be shared with them. Payment links need to be paid within a week of being received to secure places.
Want more info? See FAQs below.
If you have any questions, please contact us using the website contact form.
FAQs:
There's something very therapeutic about squishing a bit of wet clay in-between your fingers!
Pottery can alleviate the symptoms of anxiety, depression, arthritis and even PTSD.
- Reduce Stress - Working with clay can be very relaxing. The tactile nature of ceramics provides a unique sensory experience that can lead to lowered stress levels. Research has found that that art activities, including using clay, can lower the stress hormone cortisol, after just 45 minutes.
- Turn Your Brain "Offline" - Disconnect from the information overload and endless tasks of daily life. The meditative state achieved when working with clay allows your frustrations and worries to melt away. Just a few hours of working with ceramics can rejuvenate and recharge your mental state.
- Sense of Accomplishment - There's a special satisfaction that comes from creating something from start to finish. Whilst it might not be the perfect work of art to start with, it’s something that you made from scratch and something to look at and be proud of. Seeing your own finger marks, intentional and accidental in the clay, means that you are forever connected with it. Your pottery has the potential to last forever and serve as a constant reminder of your achievements.
- Enhanced Creativity - Pottery helps you to express your creativity. It’s a good way for people of all ages to explore the things they can do. You may be more creative than you think and there’s no right or wrong way in pottery.
- Exercises Hands, Wrists, and Arms - The movement of making pottery is gentle yet strengthening to the hands, wrists, and arms. This can be beneficial to those prone to arthritis in the hands, as it promotes joint movement, dexterity and fine motor skills.
- Experience Joy - Clay is messy and squishy! Playing with clay is fun regardless of age or ability.
Wheel throwing is the technique of shaping clay using a potters wheel. You use a constantly turning wheel - powered by a motor and triggered by a foot pedal - to rotate a lump of clay between your hands. You then use your hands and the wheel's rotation to mould the clay into a round shape.
Handbuilding is an ancient pottery technique that involves creating forms without a pottery wheel, using just your hands, fingers and simple tools. The most common handbuilding techniques are pinch pottery, coil building and slab building.
Lessons are available at a variety of times Wednesday to Sunday, including morning, afternoon and evening availability. Lesson bookings are booked on a first come first served basis so availability may be limited at times.
The lesson if based in my studio, on my farm in the heart of the Brecon Beacons. The road to the farm is a typical single track country lane, so please take care when driving as there may be oncoming vehicles. NB: The postcode may take you to our neighbours' property, please carry on to the end of the lane.
From my farm, on a nice day you can enjoy breath-taking views of the Brecon Beacons. You are welcome to stay and have a picnic lunch or just sit for a while on a picnic table in our garden.
Also, less than a 5 minute drive away is the National Park Visitor Centre, where you can browse their shop with lots of local products and crafts and have some food or drink from their café. The common land surrounding the visitor centre is also a great place to go for a walk. If you want, you can walk from our farm and along to the visitor centre, just let us know and we can provide you with directions.
You can also visit Brecon town or explore the Brecon Beacons.
Clay is messy by nature, so wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Aprons are provided and clay will usually wash out of clothing. Beacons Pottery takes no responsibility for any damage to your personal items.
Anyone can have a go at throwing on the wheel! Adaptations to the lesson can be made for all needs, just let us know how we can help upon booking.
The studio is fully wheelchair accessible, however we do not currently have a wheelchair accessible toilet - please bear this in mind.
Please contact us if you have any concerns - jess@beacons-pottery.co.uk
Participants must be over 18.
You will each get a maximum of two pieces and three decorations fired, glazed and delivered to you after your lesson. Due to the nature of the firing process, some pieces may be damaged in the kiln. If this happens, you will be sent a small complimentary product from Beacons Pottery.
Your pottery will be delivered to you a maximum of 10 weeks after your lesson. This allows time for pieces to be fired, glazed, fired again and then delivered, which is a slow process. You will be notified when your products are on their way to you.
Lesson bookings are booked on a first come first served basis so availability may be limited at times. New lesson slots are added regularly, so keep trying.
Sign-up to our newsletter at the bottom of the page to be kept updated about availability.
Lesson can be rescheduled a minimum of a 24 hours prior to the booked time, at no extra cost. Lessons can be rescheduled a maximum of 3 times and must be redeemed within 365 days of original booking.
All bookings are non-refundable.