

Upcoming workshops 2026
Check out the exciting lineup of talented potters coming to the studio in 2026. Don’t miss out on these inspiring, educational, and enjoyable workshop opportunities!
Please feel free to email us at info@frschoolofceramics.co.uk with any potter/workshop requests, and we’ll do our best to organise them.

2-Day Masterclass in Throwing with Sabine Nemet
7th - 8th February 2026
Join acclaimed potter Sabine Nemet for a two-day immersive throwing masterclass. Sabine’s work embodies a simple, rustic, and deeply tactile quality understated yet full of quiet character. She creates beautiful, functional pots for everyday use for eating, serving, and drinking that bring warmth and authenticity to daily life. Working primarily on the wheel, Sabine often alters and decorates her forms using handmade porcelain stamps inspired by nature. Her pieces are then soda-fired in a wood kiln, with minimal glaze, allowing the flashing of the soda to bring the surfaces to life in subtle and unexpected ways. This workshop is ideal for anyone who admires Sabine’s approach and wants to refine their throwing skills under the guidance of an experienced maker. With years of experience as a production potter, Sabine’s methods are instinctive, fluid, and full of insight. What to bring: - Apron - Small Towels - Notepad & Pen - We recommend bringing your own tools if you have them but all tools and equipment are provided. Please note pieces made are not fired but you are welcome to take them home. Please bring boxes and wrappings to safely take their pieces home. Lunch & Refreshments are included. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.

3-Day Masterclass: Introducing Reduction Firing with Katrina Pechal
14th- 16th February 2026
This three-day masterclass offers an in-depth introduction to reduction firing and the unique surfaces and colours it produces. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how a reduction atmosphere affects glazes and how to achieve beautiful, expressive results through careful kiln management. Working with a gas kiln, you’ll learn to control the level of reduction throughout the firing and explore how variations in fuel type, kiln design, packing, firing schedule, and even weather conditions can influence your outcomes. A range of reduction glazes will be provided including temmoku, ash, shino, and celadon but you’re welcome to bring your own glazes to test as well. Schedule: Saturday 14th | 10am – 4:30pm: Glazing and packing the kiln Sunday 15th | 8am – 4pm: Firing the kiln Monday 16th | 1pm – 3pm: Opening the kiln and assessing the results What to bring: - Apron - Small Towels - Notepad & Pen - We recommend bringing your own tools if you have them but all tools and equipment are provided. - At least 8 small to medium-sized biscuit-fired stoneware pieces to fire. Please note pieces made are not fired but you are welcome to take them home. Please bring boxes and wrappings to safely take their pieces home. Lunch & Refreshments are included. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.

Making Figurative Vessels with Amanda Popham
7th- 8th March 2026
Join the wonderful Amanda Popham for a two-day creative exploration into the world of figurative vessels. Amanda’s distinctive, imaginative hand-built earthenware figures and installations are instantly recognisable — full of life, story, and emotion. Her work combines detailed modelling and painterly surface decoration with a mix of formality and spontaneity. At first glance, her narrative ceramics may appear purely decorative or playful, yet they often carry deeper layers — ambiguous, thoughtful, sometimes tinged with quiet melancholy. Like all good stories, they invite reflection as well as delight. During this workshop, you’ll create your own figurative vessel, drawing inspiration from Amanda’s approach to storytelling through clay. She will guide you through her techniques and demonstrate her subtle methods of surface decoration and painting. What to bring: - Apron - Small Towels - Notepad & Pen - We recommend bringing your own tools if you have them but all tools and equipment are provided. Please note pieces made are not fired but you are welcome to take them home. Please bring boxes and wrappings to safely take their pieces home. Lunch & Refreshments are included. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.

Animal Sculpture Master Class with Susan Hall
21st- 22nd March 2026
Join renowned artist Susan Hall for an inspiring two-day master class dedicated to creating expressive animal sculptures. Whether you're a seasoned maker or completely new to clay, this immersive workshop will guide you through Susan’s unique techniques for bringing personality, movement, and life to your creations. Across the weekend, you’ll explore form, structure, and surface detail as you craft your own animal sculpture from start to finish all in a supportive, creative studio environment. What to bring: - Apron - Small Towels - Notepad & Pen - We recommend bringing your own tools if you have them but all tools and equipment are provided. Please note pieces made are not fired but you are welcome to take them home. Please bring boxes and wrappings to safely take their pieces home. Lunch & Refreshments are included. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.

5-Day Intensive Throwing Course with Katrina Pechal
17th- 21st August 2026
Join our 5-Day Intensive Throwing Course with me Katrina Pechal, designed for beginners and improvers alike. Whether you're new to the pottery wheel or looking to refine your skills, this immersive workshop will guide you through mastering the essentials of throwing and shaping clay. From perfecting cylinders to exploring more advanced techniques, you'll receive personalised instruction in a supportive, creative environment. Dates: Monday 7th - Friday 11th September Times: 10am - 4.30pm Cost - £550 Includes: All materials and equipment. Tea and coffee are provided but not lunch What You'll Learn: • Mastering basic throwing techniques (e.g., posture, grip, and clay control) • Creating cylinders, spouts, and handles with confidence • Shaping and refining forms for practical and decorative purposes • Techniques for making lids, galleries, and throwing off the hump • Trimming and finishing your pottery pieces Please note that pots made during the course will not be fired here, but you are welcome to take them home for firing elsewhere. This course emphasises skill

Developing Glazes with Linda Bloomfield
3rd - 4th October 2026
Join renowned ceramic artist and author Linda Bloomfield for an inspiring two-day masterclass focused on developing and understanding glazes. With her extensive background in ceramic chemistry and as the author of numerous books on glaze formulation, Linda will guide you through the fascinating process of creating and refining your own unique glazes. Through hands-on demonstrations, practical testing, and in-depth discussion, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the materials, chemistry, and techniques that produce stunning, consistent results. This masterclass is ideal for ceramicists looking to expand their glaze knowledge, experiment with new ideas, and achieve greater control over their surfaces and finishes. What to bring: - Apron - Small Towels - Notepad & Pen - We recommend bringing your own tools if you have them but all tools and equipment are provided. - Please bring 15 glaze biscuit fired stoneware test tiles to work with during the course. Please note pieces made are not fired but you are welcome to take them home. Please bring boxes and wrappings to safely take their pieces home. Lunch & Refreshments are included. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.

Printing on Clay with Donna Bloye
17th- 18th October 2026
Discover the art of printing on clay with acclaimed ceramic artist Donna Bloye in this inspiring two-day master class. Over the course of the workshop, you’ll learn a range of surface-printing techniques and then use your beautifully printed slabs to create your own unique hand-built pots. This immersive, hands-on experience is perfect for both beginners and those looking to expand their ceramic skills. You’ll leave with new techniques, fresh inspiration, and a collection of personal, pattern-rich pieces. What to bring: - Apron - Small Towels - Notepad & Pen - We recommend bringing your own tools if you have them but all tools and equipment are provided. Please note pieces made are not fired but you are welcome to take them home. Please bring boxes and wrappings to safely take their pieces home. Lunch & Refreshments are included. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.

Exploring Surface Decoration with Craig Underhill
7th - 8th November 2026
Join the wonderfully talented Craig Underhill for a two-day masterclass focused on creative surface decoration techniques for slab-built forms. Craig brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, including innovative approaches to printing on clay. What to bring: - Apron - Small Towels - Notepad & Pen - We recommend bringing your own tools if you have them but all tools and equipment are provided. Please note pieces made are not fired but you are welcome to take them home. Please bring boxes and wrappings to safely take their pieces home. Lunch & Refreshments are included. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.

Nerikomi Masterclass with Ben Davies
14th - 15th November 2026
Join us for a special two-day Nerikomi masterclass led by Ben Davies, known for his innovative approach to layered coloured clays. Ben has developed his own distinctive techniques for manipulating and combining coloured clay to create stunning, intricate patterns within his slabs which he then shapes into elegant bowl forms. Over the course of the workshop, you’ll explore Ben’s unique process step-by-step, gaining hands-on experience in colour layering, cutting, and reassembling clay to achieve striking decorative effects. Whether you’re new to Nerikomi or looking to deepen your skills, this immersive class offers expert guidance and inspiration in a relaxed and creative environment. What to bring: - Apron - Small Towels - Notepad & Pen - We recommend bringing your own tools if you have them but all tools and equipment are provided. Please note pieces made are not fired but you are welcome to take them home. Please bring boxes and wrappings to safely take their pieces home. Lunch & Refreshments are included. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.

3-Day Wood Firing Workshop with Katrina Pechal
20th - 22nd November 2026
Join me for an immersive three-day wood firing experience as we glaze, load, and fire our brand-new fast-fire kiln. This hands-on workshop is designed for potters who want to deepen their understanding of wood firing, kiln behaviour, and the beautiful surfaces created by flame, ash, and reduction. What the Course Covers: Glazing your work for wood firing Packing and loading the kiln Kiln design principles & firing cycles Reduction, ash effects, and flame paths Stoking techniques & managing a firing Monitoring, controlling, and troubleshooting the kiln Sorting and splitting wood Team-based firing shifts and rotating roles throughout the firing Schedule: Friday, 10:00 – 16:30 — Glazing & packing the kiln Saturday, 08:00 – approx. 17:00 — Firing the kiln (finish time depends on the firing) Sunday, 14:00 – 16:30 — Unpacking the kiln Instructions What to bring: Apron Small Towels Notepad & Pen At least 8 small to medium biscuit-fired stoneware pots ready to glaze and fire We recommend bringing your own tools if you have them but all tools and equipment are provided. Please note pieces made are not fired but you are welcome to take them home. Please bring boxes and wrappings to safely take their pieces home. A light lunch & refreshments will be provided. Please let us know of any dietary requirements.