Our Lessons
Single-Day Sessions
Month-Long Courses
Rolling Pottery Practice
Single-Day Workshops
Skill Level: Beginners
Teacher: John or Lynsey
Duration: 1 × 3hr session
A taster pottery class to see what wheel throwing is all about over a three-hour period. Show up, get your hands on some clay, and have some fun.
After brief introductions, a studio tour and a demonstration on the beginner steps, the rest of the workshop time will be spent trying to make your best pot! The instructor will be there for the duration of the class to help guide and steer you in the right direction. At the end, pick your two favourite creations, let us know what colours you would like them to be glazed and fired in, and we’ll do the rest. Available glaze colours will be displayed on the day, and you will be notified when your pots are ready for collection. If required, postage of finished pots will be available for an additional cost.
Month-Long Courses
Skill Level: Beginners
Teacher: John
Duration: 4 × 2hr sessions
A four-part introduction to throwing clay on the potter's wheel.
Each of the four, 2-hour sessions combine to comprise the basic elements of making wheel thrown pottery, including throwing, trimming and glazing. You complete each step of the process, and all pots made can be taken away at the end of the course.
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The class will start with meeting fellow course-mates, a quick brief on the contents of the course and demonstration on the basic steps to throwing a simple vessel. Then, use the remaining class time to get hands on with your first attempts at throwing a pot on the wheel!
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A full session of wheel throwing, beginning with a refresher on technique, before going on to make the pieces you will finish the course with.
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Having let your work from the previous weeks dry out a little, it's ready for the finishing touches. In this session you will use a variety of hand tools to trim excess clay, add the bottom design or 'foot', decorate and make the final shape of your pots before allowing them to dry out completely before firing in the kiln.
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Once fired, your pots will be ready for glazing, the final step. Apply wax to the base of your pots and choose from a variety of glaze colours and styles to before for the final kiln firing. Come and collect your finished work at your own convenience once the firings are completed at a later date.
Rolling Pottery Practice
Skill Level: Intermediate
Teacher: Lynsey
Duration: 6 × 2.5hr sessions
This 2.5-hour class is for people with some pottery experience (e.g. taster throwing class) who fancy making pottery a hobby and returning on a rolling basis to develop your skills. Come ready to get mucky and get creative!
Your teacher will introduce you to a variety of pottery styles (pinch pots, coil, slab, wheel throwing, wheel trimming, and decorating) and you can learn together, while exploring your own ideas and goals in pottery. You will have access to pottery wheels, slab rollers, underglazes, pottery tools, and glazes, and are encouraged to explore and create with clay.
We work with stoneware ceramic so your pieces will be functional and food safe when completed. Current students are given first refusal to re-enroll and keep their pottery journey going! This class runs in 6 week blocks.
Upcoming Lessons
Click on the lesson date for more info & to book
The next batch of lessons will be uploaded in June
Join our waitlist to be notified for early access!
Recommendations:
Try to arrive 10 minutes early to find the Workshop door and get familiarised.
Bring your own apron (or you can purchase one onsite) and wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Be able to roll up your sleeves to the elbow.
Be able to tie your hair back and try to avoid wearing hand jewellery.
There is no immediate street parking, however parking can be found on side streets and is free after 5.30pm each day.
Please note that all of our classes have a minimum age of 16 yrs. Courses will run with a minimum of 4 people (you will be notified at least 48hrs in advance if your class cannot run and given reschedule/refund options) and a maximum of 6 people. Classes can be refunded up to 2 weeks ahead of the start date - within 2 weeks we unfortunately cannot refund.
Month-Long Courses
all course spaces are currently full - please join our waitlist to be notified of any availabilities
Rolling Pottery Practice
prior experience needed
all rolling spaces are currently full - please join our waitlist to be notified of any availabilities
Single-Day Workshops
July
Join the Waiting List
and we’ll email you if any spaces become available
All of our pottery classes are hosted in the popular central-Edinburgh studio John Burgess Ceramics
You can learn more about the studio, and see the work