Handbuilding and Decorating Taster Class (Events)

Explore the timeless art of hand-building in this captivating two-hour pottery session in Leith.


bottega ceramica
bottega ceramica
5.0 (31)

2 hours Class size 1 to 20 guests

  £40 - £50 (£50 per guest when you book for 1+ guests, £45/guest for 5+ guests, £40/guest for 10+ guests) (PayPal Pay in 3 available)

Step away from life's distractions and discover the soothing power of ceramics with our Handbuilding Taster Class. Designed for team-building events, fun birthday parties, pre-wedding celebrations, and other special occasions, this hands-on session invites you to discover ancient techniques such as coiling, pinching, and slab building. Experience the joy of shaping raw material into functional beauty entirely by hand.
Under the guidance of a formally trained instructor, you'll begin by exploring fundamental handbuilding methods, creating pieces like bowls and other everyday items to appreciate clay's remarkable adaptability. You'll then have the opportunity to decorate your pieces with textures and colours using tools and decorating slips.
This class welcomes everyone, regardless of skill level. Even if you’ve never worked with clay before, you’ll be amazed at what your hands can create. Handbuilding fosters a deep connection between maker and material, allowing for limitless expression and experimentation. Each technique provides a grounding experience that sharpens the mind and improves focus, patience, and dexterity.
At the end of the session, your piece(s) will remain at the studio to be glazed and fired. You'll leave with a distinct sense of accomplishment. You might even feel inspired to join us for weekly handbuilding sessions to consolidate your skills!
What you'll get
Craft and take home one or two beautifully finished pieces.
Knowledge required
None—this class is suitable for all skill levels!
What to bring
Please bring an apron if you have one; otherwise, we'll provide one.
Suitable for

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a date idea, team building activity, birthday or hen do.

Suitable for adults, and kids (minimum 10 years old).

An adult must accompany any attending kids, and must pay for a separate ticket.

This experience would also be a unique gift for her, gift for mum, Father's Day gift or gift for couples.

Location

Edinburgh Open Workshop, 39-41 Assembly Street, Leith, Edinburgh

Handbuilding and Decorating Taster Class (Events) location
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Your teacher

bottega ceramica
bottega ceramica

5.0 (31)
female Women-owned

Bottega Ceramica is a ceramics studio founded by Chiara Dorbolò, an architect and ceramist trained in Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. The studio's mission is to share the transformative experience of working with clay using your hands and the pottery wheel.
Crafting beautiful and functional pieces from clay is a joyful and empowering process. The repetitive, rhythmic motions involved in kneading, centering, and shaping clear the mind and lift the mood by means of mindfulness and sensory grounding. Nestled in a sunny studio space within the Edinburgh Open Workshop, Bottega offers beginners and seasoned potters alike a chance to experience this wonderful process. Whether you are touching clay for the first time or the hundredth, you'll find room to disconnect from the daily hustle and reconnect with your creative self.
The name Bottega is inspired by the traditional Italian workshop where artists and craftsmen trained under a master. Since Renaissance times, 'andare a bottega' has been synonymous with learning through observation and practice—preparing materials, replicating processes, and accumulating practical knowledge. Your instructor, Chiara, is a graduate of the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam and the Francisco Alcántara School of Ceramics in Madrid. With two years of experience as a pottery teacher and nearly a decade as a design and architecture educator, she brings a rich pedagogical foundation to every class. At Bottega, she provides a thoughtful learning experience rooted in tradition and shaped by contemporary design practices. Through an approach that combines technical skill, material sensitivity, and spatial thinking, she'll help you deepen your understanding of ceramics as a craft and as a design language.
Classes at Bottega follow the atelier model, featuring small group sizes, personalized guidance, attention to technique, and space for experimentation. In particular, we offer:
  • Taster classes, for those eager to dip their fingers into the tactile world of ceramics.
  • Introductory courses, for beginners ready to embark on a comprehensive learning journey.
  • Weekly sessions, ideal to sharpen your skills and explore new creative horizons.
  • Themed workshops, where you are guided to create pieces inspired by seasons, topics, or celebrations.
Join us for an immersive experience tailored to your level of expertise. Dive into handbuilding and wheel throwing techniques and discover the sense of tranquillity that comes from engaging with this timeless craft. You'll leave with more than just pottery: you'll gain patience, inspiration, and a deeper connection to an ancient art form.

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2026-06-26 15:00:00
class 1E57MXLBSX b30fa37a8c654059964d2a78c24cea95 production edinburgh Edinburgh Scotland GB edinburgh