Raku Experience

Experience the drama and beauty of Raku firing from start to finish!



4 hours Class size 1 to 10 guests       £135 (PayPal Pay in 3 available)
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Introduction & Glazing

Introduction & Glazing

In the first hour, you will be given a short introduction to Raku and then you will spend up to one hour glazing and decorating your vessels in the pottery studio, choosing from 13 Raku glazes, with copper wire available to add during the initial firing.


First refreshments ...

First Refreshments ..

We'll then head next door where we will serve soft drinks & biscuits. Please note, further food and drinks provided for private events subject to catering request - please inquire!


& then we fire the kilns

Then We Fire the Kilns

We will ask for volunteers to help load the kilns and start the first firing. Raku kilns are unpredictable by nature, so each firing can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to reach temperature depending on temperatures, rain, wind, etc. Our goal is to do two firings, but we don't always get there if the conditions do not permit. Patience, conversation & refreshments helpful at the firing stage.


Unload the kilns!

Unload the Kilns

We encourage everyone to take turns getting involved at this stage when we move each glazed piece from the kiln into combustibles.


Horsehair & feathers

Horsehair & Feathers

For those who choose to do use horsehair and feathers to decorate their pieces, this is your time to shine.


Watch your creations emerge from the ash

Watch Your Creations Emerge from the Ash

The last and final step in the process is scrubbing all of the vessels. It is so fun to watch your colourful creations emerge - rarely as you planned, but beautiful nonetheless.


Wirey-dachshund cuddles

Wirey-dachshund Cuddles

Completely optional, but a great way to spend any spare minutes in the afternoon. They are always pleased to see strangers! A very large Ragdoll also frequently lurking behind flower pots if you are more inclined to the felines.


Raku Firing Workshop
Watch clay transform in front of you with this hands-on introduction to Raku — one of pottery's most dramatic and beautiful firing techniques. You'll leave with two Raku vessels of your own design, and everything you need is included. No previous experience is required; this workshop suits anyone from total beginners to potters who've been at the wheel for years.
We'll start with a brief introduction to the Raku process, then it's into the studio for up to an hour of glazing and decorating your two vessels. Choose from a palette of 13 Raku glazes, and add copper wire before the first firing if you'd like an extra layer of texture. You may choose to leave one vessel unglazed for the application of horsehair, feathers, or sugar during the final steps of making.
Next, we'll step next door for biscuits and soft drinks (or tea/coffee if it is a morning session) while the kiln does its work. If you want a fully catered session, please contact us about a private Raku workshop. We are happy to help organise.
Raku firing runs on its own schedule — the two firings together can take anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on how the kiln behaves on the day. Once your pieces emerge from the kiln, you'll get hands-on again, putting pieces into the combustibles for a reduction phase or using sugar, feathers, and horsehair to draw out one-of-a-kind marks and patterns. After the reduction firing, you will scrub your pieces to reveal the final design. It is completely unpredictable, which is why it is so exciting!
What you'll get
Two bisqued vessels are provided, and all glazing/firing materials, aprons, and protective gear for firing are provided. Just bring yourselves and some creative energy!
Knowledge required
This class is 100% beginner-friendly. No experience is necessary.
What to bring
We ask that all guests come with closed-toed shoes, long trousers, long sleeves, and bands to secure long hair if required. Wear clothing that you don't mind getting a bit smoky, as the reduction phase can get particularly smoky.
Location

The Old Bank Pottery Studio & Gallery, 127 High Street, Henley-in-Arden

Raku Experience location
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The Old Bank Pottery Studio
The Old Bank Pottery Studio

5.0 (6)

I spent years in the C-suite of a medical software company — successful on the outside, exhausted, stressed, and anxious on the inside. Then I tried pottery. My mind cleared, my anxiety melted away, and for the first time in years I had to let go of perfection — because clay simply won't allow it.
When The Old Bank building became available in Henley-in-Arden, I stepped inside out of curiosity. Light, bright, and spacious -- this building simply wanted to be a pottery studio! With room for 12 professional wheels, a dedicated hand-building area for up to 10, 2 large kilns, and a separate glaze room, it is the perfect space for working with clay.
To ensure the highest level of instruction, I brought Selby Dickinson on board to develop the course curriculum. Selby is a studio potter, expert thrower, and brilliant teacher with over 30 years of experience. Selby has great banter, can teach all age groups, is extremely supportive, and, most importantly, he is passionate about his craft. We now have a full roster of teachers - Tilda, Sophie, Robyn, Nicola, and Ros- to provide support and deliver specialist workshops focused on their areas of expertise.
What I love most is seeing clay do to others what it did to me — watching people fall in love with pottery at one of our 1-hour beginner taster classes, discover the joy of refining their thrown creations in a Wheel Throwing 101 weekend intensive, and then develop their own unique practice in one of our pottery clubs. Students arrive stressed and leave transformed all while developing new friendships over a shared love of clay. In short, I love every bit of it... except maybe all the cleaning!
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