Beginners Intensive Throwing Weekend | Saturday 8 August and Sunday 9 August

This two-day workshop is designed to help you build confidence on the potter’s wheel and develop a solid foundation in wheel throwing. It is suitable for anyone who has attended Jeanette’s one-day introduction class, complete beginners, or those looking to refresh and strengthen their core throwing skills.

Wheel throwing takes time and practice to master, so throughout the weekend there will be plenty of opportunities to develop your technique, ask questions, and gain confidence at the wheel. Investing time in these essential skills now will make future projects more enjoyable and help you to avoid frustration later on.

Day 1 – Building Strong Foundations

We’ll begin by exploring the essential techniques that underpin all wheel-thrown pottery. You’ll be guided through the key stages of the throwing process, including centring the clay, opening the base, and pulling the walls to create height.

Rather than focusing on the finished piece, the emphasis will be on understanding the process and developing good habits from the start. By concentrating on each stage, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how the clay responds on the wheel.

Day 2 – Finding Form and Control

On the second day, we’ll focus on creating one of the most important forms in ceramics: the cylinder. As the foundation for countless pottery shapes, learning to throw a well-balanced cylinder is key to developing control and consistency.

Through this form, you’ll learn how to apply even pressure, improve stability, and understand the relationship between timing, wheel speed, height, and shape. These skills are fundamental to successful wheel throwing and will support your progression into more complex forms.

You will also have the opportunity to decorate and glaze up to two pots made during the weekend for an additional charge of £6 per session.

Hosted by Jeanette Sheppard who is an artist and ceramicist, creating small batch pottery and one-off pieces in her garden studio. Her warm and friendly approach will help you to begin to build creative confidence at the wheel.