Henley-in-Arden, Birmingham

classes: Wheel Throwing • Pottery

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 — 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. Additional instructors - Tilda, Sophie, Robyn, and Ros - provide support and deliver specialist workshops focused on their individual 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!

Classes