Image Credit: Ceramic footed dish by Clod Studio ( Poppy Davis)

POTTERY

CLASSES

Evening and weekend pottery classes in Leeds

Discover the joy of working with clay in our relaxing evening and weekend pottery workshops, led by experienced ceramicists and tutors Poppy Davis and Niamh Phillips. These friendly, hands-on ceramics classes are suitable for all abilities—whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to build on existing skills. Enjoy learning in a welcoming environment where you can meet like-minded people, explore your creativity, and support your mental wellbeing through mindful, tactile making. Our classes and courses offers the chance to try techniques like hand-building, coloured clay inlays, decorating and glazing with expert guidance throughout. Plus, you can unwind with a hot drink or treat at our onsite café before or after your class.

We offer small class sizes to ensure each student receives plenty of tuition and support. Our pottery classes are extremely popular and tickets sell out quickly. With limited spaces available we advise booking well in advance to secure a place.

Exploring Ceramics
4 week Pottery course with Niamh Phillips

Event Details:
Monday evenings 6pm - 8pm
20 & 27 April and 11 & 18 May
4 May (Bank Holiday) No session
Cost £140 for the full course
Firing fees and all materials and equipment included.

Join professional ceramicist Niamh Phillips for a relaxed and creative 4-week pottery course at Northlight Arts Centre.

This beginner-friendly ceramics course focuses on handbuilding techniques and decorative surface processes. Niamh specialises in colourful porcelain, working with coloured clay to create pattern and depth in her work. With over 12 years of teaching experience, she’ll guide you step-by-step through the fundamentals of handbuilt pottery in a supportive, small-group setting.

Whether you’re completely new to ceramics or looking to develop your skills, this Leeds pottery class offers space to experiment, explore ideas and create your own finished pieces.

You’re welcome to arrive with inspiration — sketches, objects, or even a Pinterest board.

What to Expect

Week 1: Introduction to clay through pinch techniques

Week 2: Combining pinching methods and decorating with slips

Week 3: Slab building techniques and working with coloured clay

Week 4: Refining and finishing your slab-built piece

All work will be decorated during the sessions. After the course, pieces will be professionally fired and glazed in a clear glaze at Niamh’s studio. Finished ceramics will be ready for collection approximately 5–6 weeks after the course ends.

Materials
All necessary materials are supplied at no additional cost including firing fee.

Age Restriction: 15+
(Children must be accompanied by an adult)

Exploring Ceramics
4 week Pottery course with Poppy Davis

Join professional ceramics artist and tutor Poppy Davis from Clod Studios for an immersive and hands on four week course that will introduce you to the joys of working with clay. Your beautiful finished pieces will range from bowls to mugs, all decorated by you with glazes and slips.

What to Expect

Week 1: Drop mould bowls.
Learn to create bowls using slabs and moulds and decorate them with paper resist and slip colours.

Week 2: Slab vase making with relief decoration.
Create vases using slab building techniques, and add relief shapes for decoration.

Week 3: Coil built mug.
Learn to make your own mug from scratch out of coils of clay. Build up layers to create the mug body and learn to add handles.

Week 4: Glazing week:
A final session to glaze all of the pottery from the previous 3 weeks using a white or transparent glaze with a selection of different coloured glaze stain washes to choose from.

Materials
All necessary materials are supplied at no additional cost including firing fee.

Age Restriction: 15+
(Children must be accompanied by an adult)

MORE COURSES WITH POPPY COMING UP IN THE AUTUMN

MEET THE ARTISTS

Poppy Davis
Ceramicist and artist educator
Owner CloD Studio

Poppy Davis is the founder of CloD Studio and a ceramicist and artist educator based in Leeds. Her practice centres around wheel-thrown stoneware, with a strong emphasis on creating functional homeware. Drawing inspiration from flora and botanical forms, Poppy’s work is characterised by a distinctive abstract aesthetic. She creates a wide range of pieces—from vessels and mugs to dishes and vases—each adorned with expressive, colourful brushstrokes that flow elegantly across the surface.

Socials/ Website
@clodstudio
www.clodstudio.co.uk

Niamh Phillips
Ceramicist and artist educator
Hope Studio

Niamh Phillips is a Leeds-based ceramicist and founder of Hope Pottery. Her work explores colour, pattern and form made from slipcast porcelain. Using coloured clay she creates layered surfaces that feel both playful and considered. With more than a decade of teaching experience, Niamh creates relaxed, supportive spaces where beginners and returning makers alike can experiment and build confidence with clay.

Socials/ Website
@niamh.phillips
https://niamhphillips.co.uk/