Clay College Stoke

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Clay College Stoke

A college dedicated to teaching the fundamental skills necessary to become a studio potter. Email for any enquiries. Opened 2017. Gallery now open daily.

02/06/2026

We've been so excited to share the beautiful work of professional studio potter, Jaeeun Kim, with our students and visitors here at Clay College in our latest exhibition, 'Pots for Flowers'.

Jaeeun is a Korean-born ceramic artist, now based in the UK. She works with porcelain and stoneware, creating small, functional vessels with hand-painted surfaces.

Her work is based on the art therapy concept of House-Tree-Person, connected to her own childhood memories.

Her work suggests quiet moments, movement, and a sense of returning.

“Through making, I layer emotions and traces onto simple forms, and the process becomes a way of understanding myself.”

👉 Follow the link to Jaeeun's collection to view and shop online: https://bit.ly/4v3LPvW

Why not visit our Gallery to view and shop our FREE exhibition?

⏰ Gallery Opening Times:
Tues-Fri(10am - 3pm)
Sat & Sun (11am - 3.30pm)
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29/05/2026

It's an absolute pleasure to be exhibiting the imposing work of professional studio potter, David Binns, here at Clay College.

David creates glazed vessel forms from solid blocks of porcelain or stoneware clay using woodworking chisels and blades to carve the clay into angular vessels with torn, textured detail, reminiscent of hewn rock formations.

Whilst drawing inspiration from the natural landscape, David's thinking is shaped by a deep respect of the fundamental principles of Japanese aesthetics.

He is particularly interested in making work that can be used in conjunction with Ikebana, the traditional art of Japanese flower arrangement.

👉 You can view and shop David's collection here at our Gallery and online. Just follow the link to our 'Pots for Flowers' exhibition https://bit.ly/4fwv73v
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26/05/2026

It's such a pleasure to be exhibiting the beautiful work of professional studio potter, Kate Sampson, in our latest exhibition 'Pots for Flowers'.

Based in her garden studio in the woodlands of rural Kent, Kate’s work is inspired by the native plants and wildlife that surround her.

Her decorative technique involves layering fine brushwork with sgraffito and wax resist to produce a distinctive richness and depth.

A background in illustration greatly informed her practice, stimulating her to approach clay as though it were an artist’s canvas.

“Clay is the most rewarding canvas I’ve come across. I hope to encourage an appreciation for this beautifully humble craft by treating traditional vessels as individual artworks.”

👉 Follow the link to view and shop Kate's work online https://bit.ly/4ulK8di

*SOLD: Bluebell Vase
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22/05/2026

We can't resist shouting about the stunning work of professional studio potter, Georgie Gardiner, in our summer exhibition, 'Pots for Flowers'!

Georgie makes wheel-thrown vessel forms from her garden studio in the beautiful Surrey Hills.

She is known for her distinctive paper resist decoration, a technique she has been developing for over 20 years.

Her emphasis is on how the form and decoration complement one another, creating a visual balance that, whilst being bold and graphic, also appears calm and understated, too.

"I enjoy working within the constraints of this technique - I find if you narrow down your options (as there is so much you can do with clay!) the possibilities, even within that small area, become endless.”

👉 Visit our Gallery to view and shop Georgie's collection OR visit our website. Just follow the link here: https://bit.ly/4uDv0YZ

⏰ Gallery Opening Times:
Tues-Fri (10am - 3pm)
Sat & Sun (11am - 3.30pm)
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19/05/2026

We're delighted to be showcasing a beautiful collection of work by professional studio potter, Sarah Went, in our latest exhibition, 'Pots for Flowers'.

Sarah aims to make elegant and useful pieces for the home that will encourage constant use. Her work is mainly wheel-thrown and some are altered when the clay is still pliable, creating scalloped edges or oval forms.

She uses porcelain, preferring its translucent quality and its delicate looking nature, and uses handmade glazes that let the beauty of the porcelain shine through.

Her work is inspired by nature, often using the plants in her garden as inspiration to create repeated patterns, and in her choice of colour palette of soft blues, greens and yellows.

Pieces are decorated either with slip trailing or carving to create textural accents and patterns that enhance both the visual and tactile experience.

Pieces can be mixed and matched to form collections that interplay between colour and form. Creating a body of work with a calm and quiet indulgence.

👉 Follow the link to view and shop Sarah's collection online, or visit us at our Gallery at Middleport Pottery https://bit.ly/3R5tBLK

⏰ Gallery Opening Times:
Tues - Fri (10am - 3pm)
Sat & Sun (11am - 3.30pm)
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14/05/2026

We're so excited to be showing the work of professional studio potter, Tanya Gomez, in our latest exhibition, 'Pots for Flowers'!

Tanya is a celebrated ceramicist and has honed her skills over the last 20 years using dynamic throwing, cutting and assembling techniques.

From years working on yachts, travelling the world and coastal living Tanya has absorbed the abstract qualities of colour and shape, particularly at sea, and uses this to inspire her art forms and evocative glazes.

“My vessels and installations can look like they are flowing. Clay is contradictory like that. You’re using this beautiful soft material but to manipulate it my movements are directive, strong and controlled.”

👉 You can view and shop Tanya's collection at our Gallery here at Middleport Pottery and on our website https://bit.ly/4eKkoSP

⏰ Gallery Opening Times:
Tues-Fri (10am - 3pm)
Sat & Sun (11am - 3.30pm)

08/05/2026

We want to say a huge thank you to local craft ale specialists Titanic Brewery for their generous donation to us, here at Clay College!

Community backing like this fuels our mission to deliver world-class ceramics education and hands-on training for the next generation of emerging studio pottery makers.

Their donation will help towards our forthcoming Graduate Showcase, opening 21 July, featuring the incredible work of our 14 graduating students who are completing their two-year full-time Diploma course this summer. More information can be found on our website https://bit.ly/4wjeiPs

If you’d like to donate materials or equipment (old kilns, wheels, tools), please email us [email protected]. And if you’re able to make a financial contribution, you can do so via our website https://bit.ly/3QY6fHR
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05/05/2026

This Bank Holiday weekend we welcomed a great group of masterclass students to Clay College for our 3-day salt glazing and firing workshop—full of hands-on making from start to finish.

Day one was all about glazing and kiln packing. Students prepared their pots, applied slips and glazes, and carefully loaded the kiln using plenty of fireclay wadding to stop pieces sticking—a much more involved process than a standard firing.

Sunday was firing day. We started early at 9am, steadily bringing the kiln up to temperature. Salting began at 1020°C, adding around 3kg of salt, before pushing on to 1280°C and soaking to cone 11. It was a long, focused day with everyone closely involved in the process and decision-making.

First thing Monday, we removed some of the bricks from the top door, allowing the kiln to cool. We opened up and unpacked after lunch—always the most exciting moment – and we were delighted with the brilliant results that came out of the firing!

Thanks to everyone who took part—it was a really fun and very rewarding few days.
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04/05/2026

*Ikebana Masterclass* Experience the elegant Japanese art of Ikebana with us at this hands-on workshop on Saturday, June 20th here at Clay College.

Guided by Tokyo born Ikebana artist, Junko Popham, you’ll create your own expressive and harmonious compositions while gaining a deeper appreciation for this timeless art form.

Each participant will be provided with a bespoke Ikebana vessel, thoughtfully crafted by master potter Kevin Millward. All flowers will be provided, and you’ll be able to take your arrangement home with you.

Follow the link to find out more and book online https://bit.ly/3OW0hXa
Limited spaces available.

26/04/2026

Our new exhibition, 'Pots for Flowers', is now open, and we can't wait to share the beautiful work of these six professional potters, exhibiting with us in the show!

There's a wealth of talent and skill on show, including the stunning illustrative work of Kate Sampson, delicately carved and debossed pieces by Sarah Went and the colourful and evocative illustrative work of Jaeeun Kim.

Georgie Gardiner's pretty humbug and daisy patterns are perfect for showing off your favourite stems, Tanya Gomez's pieces will add a delicious pop of colour to any floral scheme, and David Binn's 'hewn' pieces make a striking architectural statement, perfect for the art of Ikebana.

We hope you can join us for the exhibition, which runs from Saturday, 25th April to Sunday, 28th June.

*Available online soon*

⏰ Gallery Opening Times:
Tues - Fri (10am - 3pm)
Sat & Sun (11am - 3.30pm)
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Address

Middleport Pottery, Port Street, Middleport
Stoke-on-Trent
ST63PE

Website

http://www.claycollegestoke.co.uk/

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