Due to personal circumstances, I am taking some time out. This means that lessons are temporarily unavailable. If you have a gift voucher that is about to expire and you would like to book a lesson, please get in touch and I will extend it. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Fancy getting your hands dirty?
I offer informal, relaxed pottery lessons and experiences in my studio in the heart of the Brecon Beacons. Take a break and quiet your mind whilst making a piece of pottery that you can admire for years to come.
Do you have a gift voucher?
Book your lesson and then use your code at checkout.
Private Throwing Lesson – £70
Enjoy a 2 hour 1-to-1 throwing lesson in my studio looking out on Pen y Fan mountain. Take a break from the world and get your hands messy.
Two Person Throwing Experience – £120
Share a unique experience with a 2 person, 2 and a half hour pottery lesson. Have a laugh with a parent, friend or partner whilst taking it in turns on the pottery wheel.
First time ever trying pottery after wanting to try it for years. Had a great time and really enjoyed it, can’t wait to see the finished product! Highly recommend
A wonderful Christmas workshop with Jess, learned lots of new things, relaxing and so much fun. Thanks for a great experience! We will definitely be joining more sessions x
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!
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.
Group Handbuilding Experience - £40pp
Looking for a new group activity? Why not try our 2 hour group handbuilding experience? Enjoy getting your hands messy and have a laugh with friends, whilst making your own clay masterpiece.
Suitable for groups of 4 to 6 adults of all ages and abilities.
Group Handbuilding & Throwing Experience - £55pp
Our 3 hour group handbuilding and throwing experience 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.
Suitable for groups of 4 to 6 adults of all ages and abilities.
Want something bespoke or different?
We will try our best to accommodate your needs. Just let us know what you would like and we will see what we can do.
NB: Due to the nature of our small business, there may be some things we are unable to deliver for you. We will try our best to help and if we are unable to we will signpost you to places that may be able to help you.
Want to be kept in the loop?
We are constantly planning new experiences, workshops and events.
If you want to be notified when we launch something why not sign up to our newsletter?
Not your thing? Why not gift a lesson?
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.
The number of pieces will depend on which experience you booked. Between 2 and 5 of your pieces will be 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 to make up for your loss.
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.