Beginners Wheel Throwing: Mugs and Jugs

COURSE CODE: EC2403C005

COURSE DATES: Tuesdays, 22nd April – 10th June 2025

TUTOR: Adele Williams

DAYS: 8

TIMES: 6:30pm – 9:00pm

EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Ages 18+, Beginner

FEE: £340

LOCATION: Bankside Campus, 185 Park Street, SE1 9BL

Designed for beginners and those who are looking to develop their core skills, this course is an introduction to crafting mugs and jugs on the pottery wheel. You’ll develop confidence on the wheel, learning how to shape, refine, and glaze your own ceramic pieces. With expert guidance and step-by-step demonstrations, you’ll progress from basic cylinders to taller, more intricate forms, gaining the essential skills needed for wheel-thrown pottery.
Throughout the course, you will learn:

– The full pottery process, including trimming, drying, firing, and glazing
– How to wedge and prepare clay for the wheel (400-500g of clay per pot)
– Techniques for centering, opening, and pulling up even walls to form cylinders
– Refining forms through trimming and adding handles for functional mugs
– Gradually working with more clay to create taller pieces, including jugs and vases
– Experimenting with shaping techniques such as stretching and collaring
– Glazing methods to add colour and finishing touches to your work

Sessions are held in our new, well-equipped Ceramics studio, guided by an experienced tutor. This is a fun environment where an exploratory approach is encouraged. It is a very messy activity, so please wear old clothes and cut your nails short.

This course includes having 8 of your best pieces fired which can be collected shortly after the course is complete. Learning to use the wheel proficiently is a physical skill which takes time to build. This course will provide a strong foundation in your wheel throwing journey.

Recommend booking by: April 8, 2025

COURSE SCHEDULE

Beginner

All attendees must be aged 18 and over.

Choose a Beginners course if you are looking for a broad introduction to the medium you are studying. Students spend time learning the very basics of the taught medium, for example, how to mix colours, use different tools, set up an easel. Our Beginner courses are suitable for students with no prior experience, they tend to follow a more structured path than our other courses, ensuring each student receives the guidance they need from the tutor.

All materials are provided for this course, please wear old clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting messy. Please also bring an old tea towel for your hands whilst throwing.

ADELE WILLIAMS

Adele Williams runs ceramic courses and workshops across London, and is also a studio potter creating work from Clay collective. Since setting up Clay Collective with a collective of makers in 2016, they have run workshops at Somerset House and Tate Modern.

Bankside Campus

185 Park Street,London SE1 9BL

tel: +44 (0) 207407 6969

This is our new purpose built accessible campus. Find more information here

Nearest Tube/ Rail: London Bridge or Southwark (both a 10-15 minute walk).

Please note that London Bridge has two exits, the most direct route is to follow signs to “Borough Market”.

Students are welcome to use The Hub during break times, where you can prepare hot drinks and/or food. You must bring your own keep-cup, water bottle or food container to the Academy as mugs, glasses, and containers will not be available in our Bankside campus.

Tea and coffee will be provided by the Academy and is available from the island unit at the end of The Hub.

Terms and Conditions

  • By booking onto one of our courses you agree to our Short Courses Terms and Conditions.

  • You will need to have paid in full before the first session of your class. Your place is not guaranteed until we have received full payment. Please book early in order to guarantee your place on the course.

Materials & Equipment

  • If you purchased a pack online this will be given to you on the first session of your course upon your arrival. Packs can be booked on our Materials Page or on this page when you book the course

  • Please don’t wear your best clothes as there is always a chance you will get messy. If possible bring an apron or overalls.

  • All artwork at the Academy MUST be taken home at the end of each session where possible, with the exception of oil paintings and sculpture works.

  • We cannot store materials at the Academy, so please take these to and from your sessions.

  • Please ensure that your mobile phone is switched off or is on silent during the class.

  • Health and Safety Guidelines will be provided to you a week before the start of your course.

Concessions and Discounts

We offer a number of concessions and discounts, please find more information on what we offer here.

Gift Vouchers

If you would like to purchase a gift voucher to be used on our courses then you can purchase these here.

£340.00

Early Bird offer available until 31st March.

Please apply coupon code aa-ceramics-10% at checkout.

£340.00