Decorating and Mark Making in Porcelain
Ali Tomlin22nd - 24th Sept 2026 | 3 Day Workshop | £850
This workshop will focus on decorating and mark making on thrown porcelain vessels.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Course in Detail
This three-day workshop will focus on throwing pieces such as stem vases and bowls, with porcelain. The pieces will then be trimmed and then decorated using Ali’s beautiful mark-making techniques.
Ali would like to encourage students to bring inspiration with them to the class: sketchbooks, scrapbooks, anything at all. Ali will be encouraging students to play with how to apply marks and colour to the raw, dry clay.
This course is suitable for those with some porcelain throwing experience and an interest in surface decoration.
Each student will have their own wheel and will receive plenty of individual attention. Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Please see our Student Contract for details.
USEFUL INFO
Course Breakdown
Day 1:
Ali will give a number of demonstrations and students will begin to throw their stem vases. With Ali’s assistance students to make as many as possible so that they have plenty to decorate
Day 2:
During the morning of day two students will continue throwing. Ali will also give demonstrations on throwing other shapes. During the afternoon Ali will give demonstrations on her unique decoration techniques.
Day 3:
On the final day students will continuing throwing and will spend time decorating their thrown pieces.
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Details of our firing charges can be found in our Student Contract. Please also note, we do not offer a glazing service.
Key information
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DATE
Tuesday 22nd - Thursday 24th Sept 2026
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DURATION
3 day workshop
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CLASS SIZE
Maximum 10 students
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LEVEL
Suitable for those with some porcelain throwing experience
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CLAY TYPE
Porcelain
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COST
£850 (Flexible payment plans)
Ali Tomlin creates wheel-thrown porcelain. She uses porcelain for its smooth, white surface and quality which creates a canvas for making clean, elegant shapes. Using careful decoration and adding colours and marks she creates her well-known range of contemporary ceramics.
Working with the dry, chalky surface, Ali applies a bold, but muted palette of stains, oxides and slips, splashing and sponging away areas, adding inlaid and sgraffito lines, aiming to create imperfect and unpredictable marks. Some decorating is carried out on the wheel and some through mono-printing, brushwork or splashing to convey a feeling of movement and spontaneity.
About Ali
GUEST POTTER BIO
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
The Schedule
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Welcome Breakfast (from 9am - 10am). The session will start at 10am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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On the second day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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On the final day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
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A two course lunch is provided everyday. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
A delicious home cooked two-course lunch will be provided each day
As well as refreshments throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Ceramic Studio is located on a beautiful orchard in Brenchley, and there are lots of lovely surrounding towns and villages offering numerous places to stay.
We are happy to arrange transits to and from your accommodation to the studio for the duration of your course. Please get in touch to arrange this. Please email the office team at info@theceramicstudio.co.uk. To see examples of local accommodation, click here.
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There is a small charge for fired work. Charges are as follows:
£5 per 500g for glazed work
£6 per 500g for glazed work with oxide
£10 per 500g for any glazed work over 30cm in height or width
£2 per 500g for work that is bisque fired but not glazed
· Please also note that The Ceramic Studio does not offer a glazing service.
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Yes! During this Guest Potter Workshop, you’ll be treated to a Welcome Breakfast on the first day, plus morning and afternoon refreshments daily, including teas, coffees, sweet treats, and fresh fruit. A freshly cooked two-course lunch, prepared here in the studio, is also provided every day, with dietary requirements confirmed in advance.
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If we haven’t quite answered your question please click here to view our guest potter FAQs page or email us info@theceramicstudio.co.uk