SUMMER COURSES at GOLDEN VALLEY COTTAGE
“It’s always a pleasure to welcome people into my workshop for the summer courses. Since building a dedicated space on the side of my studio in 2018, many students have been introduced to the joy and endless possibilities, of working with earthenware clay; and the excitement of firing the Phoenix design, wood fired kiln. I hope to welcome you this year to Golden Valley Cottage.”
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JUGS- LARGE AND SMALL 22-23-24-25-26th June
Monday to Friday
JUGS- LARGE AND SMALL, Wide and Tall.
A five day course. We will be looking into all aspects of making and decorating jugs in earthenware clay. Round jugs, square jugs, oval jugs. Jugs for milk, jugs for water, a fun exploration of the jug form. Students will be encouraged to try out different combinations of clays, making techniques, wheel thrown, hand built and press moulds. We will experiment with coloured slips and decorating styles, looking at historical and contemporary earthenware pottery. Weather permitting, pots made in the early part of the week, will be slipped, glazed and fired in the gas kiln.
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EVERYTHING EARTHENWARE 20-21-22-23-24 July
Monday to Friday
EVERYTHING EARTHENWARE
A five day course. We will be looking into all aspects of making and decorating in earthenware clay. Students will be encouraged to try out different combinations of clays, making techniques, wheel thrown, hand built and press moulds. We will experiment with coloured slips and decorating styles, looking at historical and contemporary earthenware pottery.
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WOODFIRED EARTHENWARE 3-4-5-6-7th August.
Monday to Friday
WOODFIRED EARTHENWARE
A five day course in which each student will be able to experience the process from raw clay to fired pots. At the end of the course you will fire my Phoenix design wood fired kiln. Each student will be able to take home all the work that they have made and fired themselves. This course is designed to help you develop as a maker, we will cover throwing and handbuilding as well as exploring slips and glazes, packing and learning all aspects of wood firing.
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CUPS, MUGS AND DRINKING VESSELS. 18-19-20th August
Tuesday to Thursday
CUPS, MUGS AND DRINKING VESSELS
A three day workshop that will introduce you to the pottery studio and give plenty of time to experience throwing on a potters wheel and exploring ways of hand building. We will look into different techniques for throwing, using soft clays, altering the round thrown form. Decorating while on the wheel with slips. looking at mug handles and their function.Different making techniques for forming bowls. Looking at contemporary and historical pots, taking these ideas into the pottery and making your own thrown and handbuilt pots.
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MAKE FOR THE MEAL 24-25-26-27-28-29th August
Monday to Saturday
MAKE FOR THE MEAL
On this new 5 ½ day course for 2026, I want to combine my two loves. Making pots which are intended to be used for eating or serving food from, and sharing a meal around the table with friends.
We will spend the first couple of days making (throwing or handbuilding). pots will be fired on Thursday. On Friday evening we’ll share a meal together using the pots you made in the week.
Lunch outside under the canopy
Throwing on a Leach kick wheel.
Freshly picked tomatoes from the poly tunnel
Unpacking pots from the woodfired kiln.
The garden
Slipping mugs in a white ball clay slip.
Students are encouraged to work on designs, and translate them into the slip decoration.
Learning to throw slower on the Leach kick wheel.
Teaching the basic steps in throwing a small bowl.
Pot chat at coffee time, I like to bring out pots from the house to discuss and debate over.
Everybody together enjoying a cup of tea at the end of the day.
The courses room, each student has access to a potters wheel, handbuilding takes place in my workshop.
The other end of the courses room.
An extension to my workshop, this was added to give a dedicated space for the courses.
Afternoon tea in the orchard, outside my workshop.
Throwing small bowls on a Leach kickwheel.
Walking back to the village campsite, after a good day in the workshop
Mariette picking salad from the veg garden
A delicious colourful vegetarian lunch is provided each day.
We try and grow as much of the salads for the courses in our garden.
Working on handles in the workshop space.
On one evening of the course, I'll get the woodfired bread oven heated up, and we all make our own pizzas.
Students stoking the woodfired kiln
pot talk at coffee time
Mariette in the kitchen, just before everyone arrives for lunch
Freshly baked cakes
Lunch outside
Golden Valley Cottage