Jane Sheppard5th - 7th October 2026 | 3 Day Workshop | £700
Jane’s aim is to give students confidence to progress independently and introduce them to the very human, uplifting joys of coiling.
From the Ground Up - Coiling with Clay
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWThe Course in Detail
This three-day course is devised as an access to those in the earlier stage of their hand building journey. Jane will share her experience as practitioner, lecturer, teacher and Interfaith Minister to guide students through what clay is, how to prepare it, look after it, work with it and refine it. Over three steady-but-full days students will become familiar with clay properties and coiling skills. Learning through demos and practice, students will meet common difficulties and learn how to avoid them.
Students will gain a thorough, gentle and inclusive grounding that will enable them to progress independently. Students will discover what they need, what they don’t, and have a bank of tips embedded by practice.
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Please see our Student Contract for details.
Course Breakdown
USEFUL INFODay 1: Students will ‘Get Started’. Students will learn clay preparation techniques, receive an introduction to clay types and an introduction to pinching and coil-making.
Day 2: Students will ‘Become Familiar’. Students will work with moulds, join clay, work in clay-time, control form.
Day 3: Students will ‘Gain Confidence and Execute Decisions’. Students will learn how to attach handles, refine their skills, burnish and incise.
This is an intensive making and refining course and there will be no specific kiln firing during the week. Students’ coiled pieces will be fired following the workshop and ready for collection at a later date.
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Please read our Student Contract here for more details.
Please also note, we do not offer a glazing service.
Key information
-
DATE
Monday 5th - Wednesday 7th October 2026
-
DURATION
3 day workshop
-
CLASS SIZE
Maximum 8 students
-
LEVEL
All levels welcome.
-
CLAY TYPE
Earthenware
-
COST
£700 (Flexible payment plans)
GUEST POTTER BIOAbout Jane
Jane has worked with ceramics since training as a teacher in art and design in the late 1980s, quickly discovering her passion for handcoiling and natural low-fired decoration. She developed her own resist techniques, exhibiting nationally including Selfridges London, St Ives gallery and Gallery 27 in Cork Street London, represented by Kate Chertavian Fine Art who was then David Bowie’s art agent.
Jane developed her ceramics career as lecturer in Art and Design at Bath College for 15 years, teaching all ability levels.
Jane began training as an Interfaith Minister in 2016, ordained in 2018. After a year teaching in the OSIF faculty she returned to hand building; the core passion of her life and heart of her ministry. Jane’s work now centres on the metaphorical language of clay and the value of making.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECTThe Schedule
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
We will bisque fire your coiled pots following the workshop. Please note that coiled pots can take a long time to dry before they can be bisque fired so this will take place a week or two after the workshop.
-
We do not offer a glazing service so cannot glaze your work for you. It may, however, be possible for you to return to the studio to glaze your work by booking a glazing session. Please speak to a member of staff to discuss this before booking. You are welcome to take greenware away with you, should you wish to. Alternatively you can take your bisque fired work away with you to glaze elsewhere.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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