Ed Bentley, Ceramic Artist, Designer and Tutor reviews

1 Apr 24'

Polly Taylor reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I am doing research into setting up a pottery abroad and I went to Ed to get more of an idea of what was involved in creating moulds for slipware. I had a great day learning so much in Ed's studio - all very relaxed and Ed was very patient explaining the steps on how to go about it and gave me great tips and pointers, with lots of examples on his shelves to illustrate what he meant. We turned a small bowl out of plaster on the lathe as the first part of the mould- making process. If only I had more days to hand to spend with Ed - I will certainly be back once I have got things up and running. I can highly recommend this course. "

12 Dec 23'

Charlotte Dawson reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"In total I spent 10 days working with Ed in his studio in Stoke on Trent, Over the course of 3 months. Together we produced, 1 large sculpture mould and 6 smaller scale moulds for hand sized sculptures. Between tuition dates I was able to contact Ed to ask for advice and always looked forward to returning to commence our next sessions. Ed is an excellent teacher and none of the stages felt rushed, he provided us with plenty of time to take each stage at the pace required to learn, encouraged me to take pictures at every stage and had no issue answering any questions I had about the process we were learning or other slip casting processes. I now feel I could successfully produce slip casting moulds independently, but could also always attend some top up session for more difficult shapes. The moulds we produced together are to an incredible standard and really beautifully finished. Ed is definitely worth every penny! "

28 Jun 23'

Caz Hildebrand reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to do a course on mould making with Ed Bentley. It was such an invaluable experience. I learnt so much, felt inspired and encouraged to develop more complex moulds and tackle challenging forms. Ed is an excellent teacher, most generous in sharing his vast knowledge, very positive and supportive and interested in helping you find the best techniques for your practice. He is also a kind and thoughtful host. I can't wait to go back and learn more. "

23 May 23'

Cathy Dickinson reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I spent 3 fabulous days with Ed creating plaster moulds for my sculptures. It was absolutely brilliant being immersed in creativity and learning so much from the plaster mould master! Not only is Ed a very patient, knowledgeable and amazing teacher but he’s also a truly lovely person. "

22 Apr 23'

Leora Honeyman reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I had an excellent experience working with Ed to learn sledging skills. We produced a large form and I am very grateful to be able to learn from someone with Ed's level of skill. He was generous with his knowledge and very welcoming. I had a great time - a pleasure all round."

14 Feb 23'

Helen Felcey reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I had a fantastic day working with Ed and would highly recommend Ed's craft courses. Working to produce a model with Ed was a brilliant learning experience and of course, resulted in a beautiful model (a bowl in my case), crafted to a standard which is only achieved after years and years of experience! It was also a thoroughly enjoyable day – you feel at home in no time working in Ed's studio. I'm looking forward to returning and truly value the fact that I'm still able to work in a very hands–on fashion with someone in this way. Ed is a real master craftsman – a rare individual! "

12 Jan 23'

Liz reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I had a great time working with Ed in his studio. I brought quite a complex shape with me thinking that we would need to rebuild something similar together, but we got to work straight away using the piece that I had brought along. Ed's calm and skilful approach to mould-making meant that we successfully made a mould from this object and I feel much more confident about attempting the same myself in the future. I would thoroughly recommend working with Ed on any of your plaster needs! "

23 Nov 22'

Katie Timson reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I thoroughly enjoyed the day I spent with Ed in his studio. He was instantly warm and welcoming and with a lot of care and patience, managed to find a mould-making solution to a problem that I’d thought for several years may be unsolvable. I was able to take plenty of notes, photos and videos of various parts of the mould-making process to help me make a more moulds at home and there were lots of tips along the way. Ed is a lovely teacher and I’d highly recommend him for mould-making tuition and expertise. I only wish I’d got in touch sooner! "

30 Sep 22'

Pris M reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I booked a 10 day course with Ed as I wanted to refine my mould making techniques. I gained invaluable knowledge and skills to help me with my journey in a professional and personal capacity. During my time, we critiqued drawings and discussed ideas, refining them into elegant forms. These discussions were extremely beneficial as I was able to resolve design issues with someone who has worked in industry. Ed is an incredible being. He is passionate, knowledgeable and talented. Everyday day was met with a smile and a positive attitude. Graceful and delicate in his approach to working, Ed’s manner put me at ease and filled the studio with a relaxing vibe. The workshop is amazing, the setup is smart, full of creativity and has a lovely atmosphere where you can immerse yourself in the creative process. Overall, it has been an unforgettable and invaluable experience. I would 100% recommend Ed for tuition!"

7 Jul 22'

Sarah Brabbin reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"Ed, a thoroughly nice chap showed me how to create a plaster mould from one of the little ceramic birds I had made. Although a simple 2-part mould, it wasn’t as daunting and technical as I had imagined it would be, it all made perfect sense and I left with a sense that I could give it a good go on my own back at the workshop."

27 Jun 22'

Heather Elvidge reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I have recently spent an absolutely brilliant couple of days making a 4 part mould for one of my designs with the exceptionally talented Ed at his Spode Studio. Ed was incredibly generous with both his time and his wealth of knowledge and he made the whole process, from advising small adjustments to my design (to make it more ‘mould friendly’!) to sharing his wealth of experience when making the mould itself. Ed was wonderful company with a very warm and supportive approach to teaching. I felt like I learned an enormous amount in a relatively short space of time. My mind is now buzzing with all the potential ceramic projects that could be aided with the use of moulds and I am very much hoping to return to Spode to get more help from the lovely Ed! I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn or experiment further with mould making, and there would be no better person to teach you. Thanks Ed ☺️"

2 Jun 22'

Jemma Millen Ceramics reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I had a fantastic 3 days with the brilliant master that is Ed, learning everything there is to know about mould making and plaster. Ed is incredibly generous with his time, skill sharing and patience. I came away feeling miles more confident in mould making/plaster work, as well as motivated to get back to my own studio to give it all a go by myself - so I absolutely recommend this course to anyone at any level interested in learning correct making practices for mould making and plaster work. I only wish he could figure out how to copy himself to also share a studio with me as I'll definitely miss our chats! I stayed at the Pot Bank hotel too recommended by Ed, as it's situated on the Spode Works site where his studio is based. It took all the travel stress away as I'm a maker based in Northern Ireland, so not too familiar with the area in Stoke."

9 May 22'

Sarah shorthouse reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I was lucky enough to have a one day mould making course with Ed. It was brilliantly taught and I came away knowing how to make spriggs and the pitfalls to avoid. Ed is a truly gifted teacher and so generous with his time and sharing of his amazing knowledge. Thank you."

30 Mar 22'

Claire Warrilow reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I had such an amazing day with Ed learning how to use the plaster lathe, and how to make moulds. I learned so much in one day, as Ed is so experienced, knowledgeable, open and has a genuine want for you to get the most out of your time with him. Aside from the practical skills, what made the day special was Ed’s warm and friendly approach, putting you at ease and making you feel like you spent the day with a friend instead of a teacher."

2 Mar 22'

Georgina Sayers reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"So pleased I booked the plaster mould making course with Ed. I had a fantastic day. Ed was brilliant - I left at the end of the day confident re the mould making process and with a lovely professionally made mould; my project has been catapulted forwards massively thanks to Ed. Ed actively invites you to take a record of the mould making process which is invaluable to refer back to. Ed is a high end mould maker; to be able to learn from him was a real privilege. Thank you Ed."

28 Feb 22'

Saskia Rigby reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"If you're considering doing this course I would really encourage you to do it. Ed has so much experience and knowledge to share, we not only covered the making of the mould that I needed, but insights into other processes and tips that will improve my mould making. He is a lovely, enthusiastic teacher, and so easy to talk to. I really enjoyed the day and will be booking myself in again. Thank you Ed!"

26 Feb 22'

James Pettinger - Mr P’s Pots reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"Myself and a colleague attended a course with Ed recently and had a fantastic day. Ed was insightful, passionate, friendly and flexible. He answered every question we had clearly, in depth and with physical examples. Ed is clearly an expert in his field and has something to offer for makers of all levels."

11 Jan 22'

emily coulson reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I was very fortunate to have spent time with Ed in his studio in Stoke making a mould. I learnt a huge amount about not only the basic process but also the little details which led to making a beautiful mould. All of which he allowed me to document so I can reference at home when I make my moulds. He is a master of his craft. Thank you Ed, you are a star."

26 May 21'

Laura Jones reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"Absolutely fantastic course, not only was Ed entertaining and engaging but the content was in broad whilst remaining detailed and relevant. I cannot recommend Ed enough, I participated in sledging this time, and last time I attended the mould making workshop. It’s such a great experience and I know I will be doing more in future"

15 Mar 20'

Elly Glossop reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I had the luxury of having a one on one 5 day course with Ed to help me expand my skills in mould making. Ed is a fantastic teacher and we focused on sledging which I had no experience in previously. He's a great teacher, very patient, friendly and hospitable, and I would recommend his courses to anyone wanting to develop their plaster skills. He knows his stuff! Thanks Ed!"

18 Sep 19'

Zara McLaughlin reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I am a student from Ulster University in Belfast. I traveled over to Stoke to spend 3 Days with Ed in his studio and had the best time. Having a basic understanding of how moulds work meant that I could really refine my skills and left feeling more confident in how to produce work to a more professional standard. I was able to take endless photos and videos to refer back to when creating work at home and I would recommend to any student out there looking to take their skills to the next level to get in touch with Ed. Ed is a wealth of knowledge and is more than accommodating to his guests needs. As a final year student the tips and tricks Ed has taught me over the past 3 days will be invaluable to me in the coming weeks. Thank you so much Ed for everything, I will definitely be interested in further tuition in the future."

7 Jul 19'

Anna Francis reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"Not only was Ed’s skill in mould making astounding, but he really is such a brilliant and patient teacher. I felt that I learned so much from the session, and more than that had a brilliant time! Ed was able to really understand what was needed and ensured by the end of the session we had made a really beautiful mould, which I can’t wait to use! Highly recommended to other artists that need to develop this skill."

4 Feb 19'

Michelle Shields reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"Ed Bentley is a relaxed & patient teacher, his expertise & methodical approach made the weekend at Ed's studio at Spode, Stoke-on Trent, the most invaluable making/learning experience. I studied metals at the RCA a number of years ago & have since returned to the materiality of clay & now i'm developing slip mould designs. I spent a weekend, under Ed's tutoring, to develop a lathe turned shape which was then taken through the process of creating a one piece dropout mould to a three piece mould - Ed's practical intelligence is hugely inspiring, full of top tips & tricks - i've now got myself a RAD gauge set for the lathe. Ed is supportive, inspiring & a highly skilled craftsman. Thanks again for a wonderful making weekend & imparting your knowledge so generously. See you soon for Jigger Jolly training. Thanks again, Ed."

8 Dec 18'

Janice and Mel reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"Mel and I had an excellent day learning to make a four part mould in Ed’s studio. Ed coped admirably with our many demanding questions - as we have been making very unpretty moulds and book-learning as we go. He was enthusiastic and fun and ignored my bag full of shapes to settle on the most challenging one. So we learnt all the hard stuff, lots of professional tips, took many photographs and made notes and laughed a lot. Now we must quickly make another complex piece to ensure we remember as much as possible. We certainly recommend Ed for an enjoyable time learning a new skill, from someone who knows everything there is to know about casting difficult shapes."

26 Nov 18'

Jonathan Groves reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"I too spent a couple of very enjoyable and informative days with the master mould maker Ed Bentley, gaining valuable insight into that particular aspect of ceramics. Furthermore, to add glaze to the clay biscuit, it's worth noting that within one minute's walk of Ed's studio, for those who need it, there is a very good place to stay i.e. reasonably priced, comfortable and recently opened plus a cosy cafe around the corner all within the Spode site. Ask Ed for further details."