Surrey Hand-Building Pottery Classes
What does hand-building entail?
At Wildcroft Pottery, hand-building techniques are taught that rely solely on your hands and a few basic tools to mould the clay into a variety of shapes. Unlike throwing on the wheel, which only creates round forms, hand-building allows for the creation of diverse shapes and sizes. Utilising three main techniques—pinching, coiling, and slab building, plus sculpture—you can craft almost anything from clay.
Pinching - shaping a ball of soft clay by first pressing your thumb into the centre and then pinching the walls out with your thumb on one side and fingers on the other to thin and shape the clay. Make items such as small bowls, spoon rests, soap dishes, bud vases, small jugs, shallow dishes, candle holders, egg cups & ring dishes. Join two or more pinched pots to make items such dipping dishes and small sculptured animals.
Coiling - long, sausage-like 'coils' of clay are rolled by hand (or made using our in house extruder) and stacked, joined & blended in layers to build items such as mugs, bowls/dishes, flower pots & vases
Slab Building - the clay is rolled into flat slabs, and then cut, shaped, and assembled to create three-dimensional items such as geometric forms, box shapes and tall vessels, or draped over moulds to create dinner plates platters and bowls.
What classes do we offer?
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Taster Classes - pinching or coiling
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Weekly Courses
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Flexi Friday Classes
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Summer Flexi Adult only & children's workshops
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Group Sessions (3-6 people) - friends/family (Please note, we do not operate children's parties)
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Studio Time
To find out more about the different classes please scroll down or book a class using our Online Booking Service
What clay do we use at Wildcroft Pottery?
All our clay is stoneware, and once fired, it is safe for holding liquids and food.
Participants in our weekly classes will have the chance to work with different stoneware clays, including some that are entirely smooth and others that contain grog (crushed fired clay pieces).
What decorative methods are taught?
Those attending one off lessons will be able to decorate all of their pottery pieces with their choice of our wide selection of coloured slips (liquid coloured clay), add textures using tools, stamps and textured rollers, use leaves as a resist (subject to time of year), decorate using 'mocha diffusion', or add glass to the inside of decorative pieces.
All pieces produced are fired and glazed with a transparent glaze.
Weekly potters are taught how to apply an extensive list of decorative techniques including; sgraffito, mishima, mocha diffusion, use of decals, adding glass (which melts in the second firing), adding texture & carving plus using coloured slips, engobes, underglazes and a choice of over 100 glaze colours to add colour and patterns by trailing, overlapping, hand painting, sponging, to name a few!
Taster Classes
'Pinching' or 'Coiling'
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Availability shown until end Sept 2026 by clicking on Book a Taster Session below
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Recommended for those who want to try hand-building pottery as a one off or before committing to a weekly course
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2.5 hour classes for beginners (adults & children aged 16+)
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Max class size of 6 with individuals signing up & sharing the lesson
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£48 per individual
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Pinching Taster sessions - understand how clay can be shaped to form functional or decorative pieces just by using your hands
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Coiling Taster Sessions - joining sausage shaped 'coils' (produced in our in-house extruder) to create items such as mugs, bowls and vases
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Add texture and decoration
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Paint with your choice of a wide range of coloured slips (coloured liquid clay) when pinching & choose a glaze for Lucy to apply if coiling
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All pieces are fired by Lucy and pinched pieces are glazed in a transparent glaze to make them food safe
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Collection of pieces after the second firing. Approx 4 weeks after the lesson
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Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included
6 or 12 Week Courses
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Summer 2026 term is now fully booked. Winter Term 2026 will be listed at the beginning of June
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Courses are held Tues/Wed/Thurs am and Tues/Wed Evenings.
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Recommended for those who want to take up a new relaxing hobby
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2.5 hours at a set time each week for adults aged 16+
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Ideal for beginners or those with limited experience
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Max 6 individuals per class
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6 weeks before £282, 12 weeks £522 with a 2 week break for 1/2 term
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Pinching, coiling & slab building plus sculpture will be taught during the course
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Work at your own pace making pieces of your choice
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Each class will be structured to build on your skills, knowledge and use of different decorating techniques including use of slip, underglazes, glazes, engobes & textured items
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Understand how clay can be shaped to form all kinds of functional or decorative pieces
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Choose how to decorate your pieces from a wide range of decorative techniques taught at Wildcroft Pottery
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Collection of pieces after the second firing
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Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included
Flexi Lessons
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Flexi lessons can be booked either as a one off or on a regular basis to suit your own commitments. 2.5 hrs
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Flexi Friday Lessons - £47 per adult over 16+ term time Fridays 10am-12.30pm
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Summer Flexi Lessons - for the majority of the weeks during the summer holiday adult's only class & children only workshop will be held each week 10am-12.30pm. Adults £47 each & Children £38 each
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Adults Flexi lessons (aged 16+) chose their own projects to make under Lucy's teaching and guidance. No experience necessary
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Children's workshops (aged 7-15) involves a variety of specially designed weekly projects suitable for children to make & decorate using a step by step approach taught by Lucy
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All projects will involve pinching, coiling, slab building or sculpture
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Add texture & decoration using a variety of tools and decoration methods
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Max 6 per class for 2.5 hours
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Collection of pieces after the 2nd firing
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Clay, equipment, decor tools, aprons and refreshments included (plus a snack for children)
Group Sessions - Friends & Family
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Group bookings are now held during the school holidays upon request. Click on Request a Group Session below to fill in the request form
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Group sessions are a fun & relaxing way to spend time doing something out of the ordinary with friends, family or work colleagues
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For adults & children aged 7+ accompanied by an adult. Please note we do not operate children's parties
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2.5 hour session with no prior experience necessary
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£218 total for 3 to 6 people
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Understand how clay can be shaped to form functional or decorative pieces using pinching or coiling techniques
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Add texture and decoration
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Paint with your choice of a wide range of coloured slips (coloured liquid clay)
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All pieces are fired by Lucy and glazed in a transparent glaze to make them food safe
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Collection of pieces after the second firing
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Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included
Hand-building 'Studio Time'
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Studio time is only available to the more advanced potters already booked on weekly courses who feel comfortable building their pieces without Lucy's help & want to spend additional time perfecting their pieces
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Flexible booking system, book as and when required
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Request 'Members Only Code' to access the booking system directly from Lucy
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2.5 hour sessions
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£33 per person
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As per all other hand-building lessons clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments are included