5 Day In Focus Course: Plates and Bottles
Photo credit: Jonny Weeks
Across 2024 – 2025 the Leach Pottery is undertaking capital building works to improve the site for future potters. Find out more here
“In Autumn 2025 workshops will commence in our newly built Learning Studios. It is possible that any courses booked for September – December 2025 will be taught in the new studios instead of Bernard’s Studio. Participants will receive an email shortly before the start of their course to confirm which studio they will be attending.”
Once the move to the new studios has been made, restoration works will render the Leach Pottery museum closed. During this period courses will be begin with a 30 min introductory talk about the story of the Leach Pottery.
This lively course focuses on these two opposing forms through exploration of approaches. Through making plates and bottles you will encounter different methods of throwing flat and cylindrical forms and advance turning and pulling handle techniques. This course is for intermediate throwers who can center 1kg of clay and acts as a good reminder of best practice in your throwing approaches. Consider modified thrown forms through paddling, fluting and faceting, creating a sake bottle and collection of beakers to play with this approaches. The course allows time of participants to repeat these skills learnt with the support of the tutor.
Skills Covered: Intermediate Throwing, Bottles, Plates, Paddling, Fluting, Faceting, Handle pulling, turning and making to specific measurements
When: Monday 15 – Friday 19 September 2025
Where: Bernard’s Studio, The Leach Pottery
Places: 4
Duration: 5 days. Core teaching hours: 10am – 4pm. Last day of the course: 10 am – 3.30pm. Please arrive at 9.30am on the first day of your course to take part in a tour of the museum.
Equipment & materials: clay and a basic tool kit is provided. We focus on building core skills and working directly with the clay to get the most from a core selection of tools. Please bring additional tools if you wish to use them along with an apron and hand towel.
You will leave with: two pieces (one bottle and one plate) that will be fired & posted to you* up to 12 weeks after the course has finished. This piece needs to be within the footprint of 20 x 20 x 20cm. You are welcome to take one or two pieces of unfired work home if you wish. Please bring boxes and packaging for safe transport.
Level: intermediate, must be able to center 1kg of clay
We are delighted to offer a 10% discount in our Shop for 14 days from the start of your course.
Any questions? Please visit our FAQ — The Leach Pottery
Please be aware, only assistance dogs are allowed in the Learning spaces.