10 Week Pottery Course
Perfect for beginners | £570* per person | All materials & equipment included
Course Dates:
Wednesday 28th January 2026 - Wednesday 8th April 2026
If you've ever wanted to dive into the world of pottery, this comprehensive 10 week course in Liverpool is the perfect place to start! Designed for complete beginners, this course offers an in-depth introduction to both hand-building and throwing techniques. Over the 10 weeks, you'll develop the skills to create functional and decorative ceramics, learning everything from shaping clay with your hands to mastering the potter's wheel. You'll also explore glazing and decorative techniques, allowing you to bring colour and personality to your creations.
At the end of the course, you'll have a collection of beautifully finished pieces to take home and cherish – made entirely by you!
Please note: There is a scheduled break between Week 5 and Week 6, making the course 11 weeks in total. During this break, the studio will be closed. It’s a chance to pause, reflect on what you’ve learned so far, and start planning your glazing choices for Week 7, when we’ll glaze the pieces made in the first half of the course.
What’s included?
All clay, tools, glazes equipment and firing costs.
Expert tuition in a relaxed, supportive environment.
The opportunity to create multiple unique pieces throughout the course.
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week 1: Introduction to Clay – Pinch Pots, Coils & Wedging
Welcome & studio intro: tools, materials, safety, and how the course works.
Learn about different types of clay and how to prepare them.
Hands-on demo: wedging techniques to remove air bubbles and align clay particles.
Make your first pinch pots to explore form and feel.
Begin coil building: learn to join coils and build small vessels.
Explore texture with stamps and carving tools.
Week 2: Slab Building Techniques
Learn how to roll even slabs using guides and a rolling pin.
Cut and construct simple forms: trays, boxes, tiles, or wall pieces.
Practice strong joins using slip and score methods.
Add feet, handles, or cutouts.
Decorate slabs using texture tools, stamps, or rollers.
Week 3: Coloured Clay & Nerikomi
Introduction to Nerikomi: colouring clay using oxides or stains.
Stack, slice, and assemble patterned clay blocks.
Create a small decorative item using your Nerikomi sheets.
Fire some early work ready for glazing later.
Week 4: Throwing Basics (Part 1)
First go on the wheel: learn to centre clay and form cylinders.
Focus on control, posture, and basic shapes.
Throw 2–3 simple forms like tumblers or small bowls.
Discuss drying process and prepping for trimming.
Week 5: Throwing Basics (Part 2)
Continue throwing practice: refine technique and increase consistency.
Try new forms like mugs, bowls, or plates.
- Mid-Course Break -
(No formal class. Time for drying and bisque firing of early work.)
Week 6: Trimming & Refining Thrown Work
Learn to trim your leather-hard pots on the wheel.
Create foot rings and refine proportions.
Practice attaching handles using slip and score.
Start preparing surfaces for decorative techniques.
Week 7: Decorative Techniques, Glazing & Kiln Stacking
Explore decorative surface techniques:
Sgraffito
Wax resist and masking
Slip trailing and carving
Learn how to use and apply glazes: brushing, dipping, pouring.
Understand glaze finishes: gloss, matte, transparent.
Decorate pieces made in previous weeks.
Learn timing: when to decorate for best results.
Learn how to safely load and stack a kiln.
Week 8: Start Your Project Piece
Begin a personal project piece using any technique: throwing, handbuilding, or both.
You design and create — with full support and guidance.
Consider scale, function, and finish.
Start forming the base structure of your project.
Week 9: Continue Project Work
Continue work on your project piece.
Focus on craftsmanship, proportion, and personal expression.
Begin preparing pieces for bisque firing.
Optional: Start a second small project if time allows.
Week 10: Glazing
Glaze any remaining earlier work or first batch of project pieces.
Try more advanced glaze layering or resist techniques.
Load kiln for final glaze firing.
Ready to Book?
Whether you’re looking to explore a new hobby, express your creativity, or simply have some fun, this course offers everything you need to start your pottery journey.
If you would like to pay in instalments, we offer payment through Klarna. Please give us an email at info@clayworkshop.co.uk telling us you’d like to pay in instalments, and we’ll send over a secure Stripe link so you can pay via Klarna.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Clay Workshop!
Please note: price includes 1.50% + £0.20 card processing fee.
*Prices include VAT