Potclays Ltd. reviews

Andrea Patocka-Ellis reviewed: Animal sculpture (The Bird) with Jeremy James

"I thoroughly enjoyed the course and I learned an awful lot - this was my second time on one of Jeremy's courses - can highly recommend the experience, worth every penny. Facilities at Potclays are also excellent and a great lunch was provided (although barely had time for it as I didn't want to waste a minute away from my clay.... :-)."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, Andrea! We're glad you enjoyed Jeremy's workshop :-)"

James Wood reviewed: Advanced throwing masterclass with David Frith

"David Frith is an inspiration with a wealth of practical experience developed over years as a top potter. His teaching is clear and supportive whilst encouraging participants to stretch themselves."

Janet White reviewed: Porcelain Masterclass with Richard Heeley

"I attended this course December 2019. I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in getting into or want to improve their porcelain practice. Richard is an amazing teacher and he is so generous in sharing his experience and his art! We threw on the first day, trimmed on the second and decorated on the third. I was totally inspired and can't wait to make more! Thank you for this course."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thank you for your kind review, Janet! Much appreciated. Will make sure Richard sees it. Hope to see you here again soon."

Susie Vittay reviewed: Porcelain Masterclass with Richard Heeley

"I attended this course last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Richard is an excellent and insiprational teacher, his knowledge in porcelain and any other aspect of ceramics is amazing. The fact that he readily shares all this is humbling. I think this was the best masterclass I have ever done. Thank you again, Richard and Potclays."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thank you for your lovely review, Susie! Very glad you enjoyed Richard's masterclass. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to him."

Jane W reviewed: Intermediate throwing with Richard Heeley

"Wonderful course run by Richard. I attended his basic throwing course in August 2018 at Clay College which was amazing, but now I’ve got some background everything has started to click into place. He has a wealth of knowledge, very down to earth and very patient in dealing with specific issues you have. I would highly recommend Richard's courses as you learn so much - get booking!"

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Hi Jane, thanks for your kind words! Hope to see you at Potclays again soon."

Preeti Dahiya reviewed: Intermediate throwing with Richard Heeley

"This course exceeded my expectations. Friendly staff, stimulating shop and good lunch. Course kit was very well thought out. Most of all Richard is a marvellous teacher, very patient, hands on, very skilled. As an experienced potter he knows exactly how to help improve individual potter. My skills have advanced more in two days with Richard than in the last 2 yrs. Couldn't have asked for more. Excellent ??"

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thanks for your review, Preeti! Very glad to hear you enjoyed the course. Hope to see you again soon."

Oonagh reviewed: Intermediate throwing with Richard Heeley

"Wow. What a brilliant way to spend two days. Richard covered so much ground, was clear and articulate in his teaching, and generous and supportive with his feedback. I have come away with more confidence, enthusiasm and clarity about how to improve my practice. Thank you to: Potclays for making this happen; Richard for his commitment, support, talent and expert teaching; and fellow participants for great company and clay chat. ???"

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thanks so much for your comments, Oonagh! I'll pass them on to everyone. Very glad you enjoyed and gained so much from the course, and hope to welcome you back soon. All the best, Becky (Director)"

Rory Lewis reviewed: Basic throwing with Jon French

"An extremely helpful and enjoyable course that I can't recommend highly enough. It really is suitable for anyone with an interest in learning to throw, from the absolute raw beginner to those like me with a little experience but desiring some clarification and additional confidence. It was a privilege to be taught by an artist & master craftsman with such extensive experience, but Jon is also amazingly personable, friendly, and encouraging to each and every student. In his demos, he breaks down the throwing & turning processes into easy-to-follow steps, illustrating how the sometimes over-mystified processes are actually really pretty simple, and just requires hands-on practice to progress at. Jon is great at pitching his teaching to each person's level of experience, and frames his tuition in a positive and constructive way that allows students to improve further whilst appreciating what they can already accomplish. In short, just absolutely top notch tuition. Meanwhile, Potclays itself provides a friendly and welcoming environment in which to learn (though it could be a little difficult to find if you're not familiar with it - visiting it in advance to familiarise yourself may be worthwhile). Travel is a little tricky if like me you don't have a car, but Stoke's extensive railway links mean that it is do-able from most places via train and a 5-minute taxi ride from the station (under £5 with a local private hire). A pack of basic tools is included with the course, and additional tools etc can be purchased at a slightly discounted rate in the showroom - though there are thankfully no hard sells or sense of obligation to buy anything further, there is simply the facility to if you wish. Self-serve tea and coffee are available throughout the day, and an extensive buffet lunch is included, with vegetarian or vegan options available (you'll be asked to specify dietary requirements in advance). Overall, a truly accessible course that will boost the skills and confidence of any beginner!"

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thanks, Rory, for your in-depth feedback - it's much appreciated! Hope to see you again soon."

Heather Elvidge reviewed: Mouldmaking for Slipcasting with Ed Bentley

"A brilliant introduction to mould making. Ed was extremely knowledgable, friendly, approachable and kind. All the students in my group completed at least one 2 piece plaster mould from which to slip cast. Ed made sure everyone understood each stage of the process and gave plenty of opportunities to make notes or video of the various stages during demonstrations. Potclays provided a fantastic venue and the lunches were delicious with all dietary requirements catered for. I took advantage of the offer to go on the Potclays factory tour, which was fascinating and I highly recommend it if you get the chance. One week on I am successfully using my own mould! Most of all I had great fun, a lovely couple of days, thank you Ed and Potclays."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thanks for taking the time to leave a review for our Mouldmaking course, Heather! Your comments are much appreciated. Hope to welcome you back to Potclays soon."

lesley nason reviewed: Animal sculpture (The Hare) with Jeremy James

"Learnt some very interesting sculpture techniques and tips. Felt the last afternoon was very rushed though and didn’t manage to complete my piece."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thanks Lesley, sorry to hear time ran out towards the end of the course. We'll feed back to Jeremy. See you again soon."

Julian Gallehawk reviewed: Animal sculpture (The Hare) with Jeremy James

"Great course run by Jeremy James and would recommend to all! He guided us through making a beautiful hare, he is a great teacher and very inspiring! And Potclays was a fantastic place! Great tour! I will be back! Julian P.s. See you at art in clay!!"

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thanks for your review, Julian! Very glad to hear you enjoyed the course and your time here at Potclays. See you in August!"

John and Christine Evans reviewed: Tilemaking with Richard Miller of Froyle Tiles

"Complete pottery novices were slightly worried about what to expect but the worries soon disappeared as soon as Richard began to speak.. Had a wonderful time, Richard was able to balance his time between the novices and the potterholics and turn the whole event into a fun and informative activity. Lunch was excellent as were the facilities.. definitely worth a go if you're in two minds!"

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thank you John & Christine for your lovely review. We're so glad to hear you enjoyed our Tilemaking workshop! We look forward to seeing you again soon."

Jacqui Seddon reviewed: Porcelain Masterclass with Richard Heeley

"I took this course last week and I am so happy that I was fortunate enough to learn from Richard. He is extremely generous with his extensive knowledge, and I improved so much from the first goblet to the last large platter that friends don't believe I made them! ;-). Many thanks to Richard and everyone at Potclays for making it a great workshop."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Many thanks for your kind words Jacqui! Look forward to seeing you here again soon :-) Best wishes from the Potclays team."

Katie Robbins reviewed: Porcelain Masterclass with Richard Heeley

"I did this course at the beginning of the week. I can't believe how much we covered and how much I improved during the few days tuition. Richard's knowledge of porcelain was fascinating and invaluable. Such an inspiring teacher and great personality. I really enjoyed the course."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Many thanks for your lovely review, Katie. We're glad you enjoyed the course! Best wishes, the Potclays Team"

Alison Townley reviewed: Intermediate throwing with Richard Heeley

"This is my first short course and I was blown away by the amount of instruction, hints, tips and one-to-one guidance Richard provided in the two days. The facilities were great plenty of space, well-lit and a lot warmer than my garage-studio! I have a Shimpo wheel, like those used in the course, so was right at home with it. A couple of the others in the class took a little while to get to grips with a different kind of wheel, but were soon throwing beautiful pieces. I was somewhat apprehensive before attending that I wasn't quite skilled enough for an 'intermediate' course, but was reassured from the outset and made to feel comfortable throughout. The class had a wide range of abilities and Richard managed to cater to us all. Richard is clearly passionate about pottery and very keen to share his knowledge and experience. His enthusiasm was infectious! He managed to strike a great balance between demonstration/instruction and hands-on time so that we were able to learn loads and apply it there, with him keeping a watchful eye and giving each of us plenty of input, encouragement and development. The Potclays team were also great, offering help and advice as well as making us feel welcome. I heartily recommend this course for anyone looking to improve their throwing skills."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thank you so much for your lovely feedback, Alison! We're delighted you enjoyed and learned such a lot from Richard's workshop. We'll be sure to pass your comments on to him and to our staff. Hope to see you again soon!"

Emily Underhill reviewed: Basic throwing with Jon French

"I would certainly recommend this course. To have two days to experiment with throwing and turning was a great experience - although challenging at times! Jon was an excellent teacher, who was very patient and helpful."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Many thanks for your review Emily! We're glad you enjoyed the course."

Damon Courtier reviewed: Basic throwing with Jon French

"A real good fun, hands on, clay throwing course with Jon French. I enjoyed the whole experience from the friendly staff, who provided the tool kits to the turning down of the more successful throws, of which there were more than I thought would be possible. Very reasonable price for the amount we accomplished. Jon was very helpful and has so much knowledge to pass on to willing students. I have already encouraged friends to have a go and will be going on future courses too. The lunch provided was also a tasty treat."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thank you for your comments Damon! We're very glad to hear you enjoyed Jon's course and we will pass on your feedback. We look forward to seeing you at Potclays again soon."

tamsin john reviewed: Advanced throwing masterclass with David Frith

"I throughly enjoyed this course as an intermediate thrower. David did numerous demonstrations which we then tried to copy, he is a master with such fluidity it was a joy to watch him - platters, urns with lids, big bowls etc. David's style is much more look and learn rather than full on teaching. I would have liked to been able to stay on later than 4pm which my fellow students agreed on too. We all would have benefited if this were possible as the days seemed quite short. But I've come home full of inspiration and more confidence as a result of spending 3 days with David Frith."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Hi Tamsin, thanks so much for your review! We're very glad to hear you enjoyed the course and we will be sure to pass your comments on to David. As we mention on the course programme sheet, timings are flexible according to the progress of the group. However, we decided on a 4pm published finish time for our courses as we have, on occasion, had a mad rush at the end of a course for students to place or collect their orders. We are very happy for students to carry on working until shortly before we close, if they wish. Thanks again for your feedback and we look forward to seeing you again soon!"

Catherine Ashton Copestake reviewed: Tilemaking with Richard Miller of Froyle Tiles

"An excellent two day course at Potclays. Richard is a great tutor; fun, informative and encouraging. I wasn't sure what to expect so I just took some ideas along - I already have professional experience in ceramics, modelling and moldmaking but wanted to learn more about press molding and production techniques. You don't have to have any skill at all - just play and enjoy. Richard supplied all the ready-cut clay so it meant you could just dive in. I think it's imperative to learn from someone who is involved in the day-to-day production of ceramics combined with good business sense and Richard's thorough and common-sense approach was a delight. Potclays is a great place to stock up on supplies - the staff know their stuff and are very friendly and helpful. Lunch was lovely and there's free tea and coffee all day. I'd would recommend this course to anyone in love with tiles (or slab building, or similar) and I'll be back for more. I found this course on this website, so thanks, Craft Courses!"

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Thank you, Catherine, for your lovely review! Look forward to seeing you at Potclays again soon."

DAVID reviewed: Mouldmaking for Slipcasting with Ed Bentley

"Good course. Puts you on the right path with plenty of demos, plenty of humour, lots of hands on experience. Very relaxed atmosphere allowing your confidence to grow."

Potclays Ltd. responded:

"Many thanks for your review, David! Look forward to seeing you again at Potclays soon."

Andri White reviewed: Intermediate throwing with Richard Heeley

"Much thought from Potclays goes into the care of each member of the class and all the staff there are genuinely kind. The equipment is of a high standard and the room is bright, clean and friendly. Richard is a delightful, knowledgeable and talented tutor with a vast number of tips that make all the difference to making. He showed an ability to intuit exactly what each student needed to know even though we were all at different stages of ability. His enthusiasm inspired risk taking and his calming ‘Zen’ approach inspired confidence. I would happily do the intermediate course with Richard again knowing I would learn more each time."

Elizabeth Wills reviewed: Animal sculpture (The Hare) with Jeremy James

"Just finished this Course today and wow, it was wonderful. I have no artistic ability at all - just an uneducated enthusiasm - and despite this, Jeremy was able to guide me to making a passable hare. It’s an addictive pastime and I’m already planning more work now I have some basic techniques. Jeremy is a great teacher and was able to - with enviable ease - demonstrate, assist and guide on the entire process of making and modelling a hare sculpture. I would highly recommend this course, great value for money and as ever, the Potclays folk are wonderful - very welcoming and friendly. I really, really enjoyed this course!"

wendy reviewed: Intermediate throwing with Richard Heeley

"This course was excellent - I have come away inspired. Richard was positive and friendly, whilst being professional and disciplined. I highly recommend both Potclays and Richard Heeley as a teacher. I have learnt a lot and will be back for another potclays course in the future. Thank you"

Sue Wilford reviewed: Intermediate throwing with Richard Heeley

"It has been an excellent two days with Richard, he has a great way of encouraging/pushing you more than you realise. Centring 3Kg was a personal highlight. As always I picked up things I didn't know I needed to know and my eye is wandering on to do another course. Everyone at Potclays was properly friendly and helpful- a delight."

Lyn Kini reviewed: Intermediate throwing with Richard Heeley

"I have just completed two wonderful days with Richard. As usual the staff at Potclays were really friendly and helpful and despite the group having varying throwing skills Richard made sure we all felt we had progressed and learned a huge amount. He gave us lots of one to one help and demonstrated really well as well as helping with suggestions for any other problems we had with glazes, batt wash, etc. I am now inspired to get back on the wheel and throw bigger pots! I would recommend this course highly."