Clay Shed - Bristol

Howie H.

I took a beginners course at the start of year with Alice as my teacher, she was absolutely fantastic, very well calm and patient with everyone in the class and conveyed the lessons in the very easy and approachable way. I learnt a great amount and after that decided to become a member at the Clay Shed. All the staff members there were always there to help and offer their expertise and advice when it was needed.

The studio it's self is a lovely space to be a part of, very clean and tidy with great facilities, having 7 wheels to choose from, very sturdy hand building/wedging tables, a glazing section as well as 4 kilns of various sizes to choose from.

Working and experimenting alongside other makers at the same time is incredibly beneficial and really pushed me to try new ideas and themes of making.

I couldn't recommend this place enough!!

Jessica T.

I recently completed the fantastic Glaze course Level 2 with guest lecturer Chloe Monks. The teaching was excellent, Chloe had obviously spent a lot of time making it totally accessible, as there was very complex knowledge being shared, due to the subject of chemistry and glazes. The practical tasks and outcomes were really informative and I was so excited to collect the glaze tests post firing!

Steve who facilitated the course was welcoming with teas and coffees on hand and homemade cake!! The information about the course was sent out in good time and the pieces were fired very quickly after the course.

Can't wait to book my next course here!

Erika P. F.

I've attended several of their clay talks, which are super affordable and offer an intimate setting with talented local makers. It's a fantastic way to connect with the ceramic community and gain insights into very different professional practices.

Most recently, I dove into both levels of the glaze chemistry courses with Chloe Monks, and it was an absolute blast!
Chloe is an amazing teacher —her passion and expertise make the lesson really engaging. I left feeling inspired and a bit obsessed!

If you're looking to deepen your clay knowledge, Clay Shed offers a range of talks, workshops and masterclasses led by skilled expert practitioners which makes it a great place to check for specialist knowledge and a variety of budgets.

Edward H.

After doing a couple of lessons elsewhere, I managed to get a place at the Clay Shed last year as a part time member, and it completely transformed my practice.

What I found at the studio wasn't just the chance to spend more time on my ceramics work. I found a supportive community of people, all keen to help and engage with each other. The team at the shed themselves, Alice, Steve, Lou and Fran were knowledgeable, helpful, and impressively tolerant of the litany of inane questions I had about ceramics.

The studio is open access, making it great for those of us working full time to nurture their skills outside of working hours. And as you manage your equipment and materials yourself, it's an opportunity to learn more about the materials: how they work, how they interact, and what they can do. Plus the Shed is impeccably well organised and clean, and you’ll learn best practices for keeping your ceramics safe from the start.

If you can't tell. I really loved my time at the Clay Shed, and I was gutted when I had to leave to move to a new city. If, like me, you love doing lessons but want more time and support to focus on your work, this is the perfect place to do it.

Rachelle C.

Great slab building and surface decoration workshop with Verity Howard - the tuition was amazing and Clay Shed is an excellent venue. We were well looked after by Steven Sales and it was great spending time developing my practice. Overeall excellent value for money and will be back again (and again).

Zoe W.

Another excellent workshop at Clay Shed!
I initially thought the advanced glazing course would be above my understanding but Chloe broke it down and delivered it in a way that was both accessible and enjoyable. She gave clear instruction and excellent one-to-one support where needed.
The sessions felt inclusive and relaxed with participants of different levels and experience. A brilliant workshop - just wish it wasn’t over already!

Gareth B.

Wonderful open access facilities. I spent a year here as a full-time member, and my practice improved massively, thanks to the support of everyone at Clay Shed. Alice, Steve and Louise are all very invested in the progress of their members, offering development opportunities and organised group crit sessions, and are an always-available fount of knowledge for advice, feedback and trouble-shooting. It's great to be around like-minded makers in such a welcoming and supportive environment - I was very sad to leave!

Josh B.

As a complete newbie to ceramics I took the beginners ceramics course with Steve and then the throwing for beginners course with Alice. The studio is such a welcoming environment that I felt at home right away, the instructors were both really friendly and very helpful and I was so pleased with the pots I got to take home. I couldn’t recommend these courses enough for anyone looking to get started in ceramics this is the place to go.