Featured Workshops
Discover some of our most loved workshops.
Saturday 7th November
2pm to 5pm
Everyone needs a wise old owl in their life!
Create your own charming owl sculpture, inspired by Picasso. Using a simple pinch-pot technique. You’ll learn how to join two pinch pots together to create a hollow form, then bring your owl to life with colour, pattern and personality using coloured slips.
Saturday 14th November
2pm- 5pm
Create your own beautiful decorative wall altar or candle sconce — a unique piece to display treasured objects, small plants or candles. You’ll have fun exploring coloured slip stencil techniques and sgraffito, carving into the surface to create intricate patterns, textures and designs.
Saturday 21st November
2pm-5pm
Create a striking textured vase using clay, texture and colour. Learn how to score, stretch and shape clay to create a unique wrapped form, then bring your vase to life with coloured slips and oxides. Experiment with surface texture and mark-making to create a beautifully tactile piece that’s entirely your own.
Saturday 28th November
2pm- 5pm
Get creative and into the Christmas spirit! Create your own unique ceramic Christmas wreath using a variety of cut-out shapes, textures and lettering to add a personal festive message. Finish your wreath with colourful slips and glazes to create a beautiful decoration to treasure and enjoy year after year.
6:30pm-8:30pm
6 week Tuesday Evening Adult course
Starting Tuesday 5th January and running to 9th February.
For Returning Learners & Experienced Potters: For those who have attended our evening courses before, the "scaffolding" shifts to support your individual artistic voice. You will be encouraged to:
Expand Your Scale: Moving from small vessels to larger, more complex forms.
Refine Your Technique: Incorporating advanced methods like Kurinuki (carving from solid blocks) or using specialised moulds.
Independent Projects: While the tutor is always on hand for troubleshooting, you will have the freedom to design your own work, with tailored feedback on structural integrity and aesthetic finish.
For First-Time Potters: If you are new to the Art Shed, we advise you to start with the Beginners course held on Saturday afternoons so that you understand the fundamental building blocks of ceramics first.
Meet Pippa
With over thirty years of experience in Arts Education, Pippa has had the joy of teaching students across all ages and abilities. Her lifelong passion for nurturing creativity inspired her to complete a Master’s degree in Education, where she explored innovative teaching approaches that connect artistic practice with meaningful learning. Alongside her teaching, Pippa continues to work as an exhibiting ceramic artist, with a particular interest in exploring wild processes, such as smoke-firing and foraging for natural pigments, and the minimalist, nature-inspired aesthetics of Japanese art.
Over the years, Pippa has witnessed how art can boost confidence, support emotional well-being, and help people of all ages discover their unique voice. Creativity nurtures curiosity, problem-solving, joy, all qualities that make learning come alive.
Pippa is now excited to be creating Brookside Art Shed; a welcoming, hands-on art space. Set in the beautiful surroundings of Brookside Eco Farm.
-
I recently attended a clay workshop at Brookside Art Shed and can't recommend it highly enough! It was an absolute blast from start to finish. The creative atmosphere was infectious, and it felt amazing to get hands-on with the clay. Pippa, our tutor, was simply fantastic—she was patient, encouraging, and full of brilliant ideas to help us bring our creations to life. Her expertise and friendly demeanour made the whole experience so enjoyable.
The facilities were top-notch, with everything we needed readily available, which really added to the ease and fun of the evening. Whether you're a complete beginner or have some experience, this workshop is a perfect way to spend a few hours being creative, learning new skills, and having a lot of fun. I'll definitely be back for more!
-
I joined a group of workmates for the Gargoyle workshops and had a real laugh. As a complete beginner I was taken through each stage by Pippa and was surprised by the what I was able to make. A very enjoyable experience. I would definitely recommend it.
-
The first workshop I went to was the first of many! Pippa's workshops are informative, friendly, fun and always have a huge connection with our natural world.
Pippa is friendly and so knowledgeable. Her skills make being creative look easy and her style of sharing her knowledge made it easy to learn and reconnect with my own creativity. Thank you, your workshops have given me a new love for ceramics. I can't wait for the next one!
Home Ed Courses
Find out more about our courses designed for home educated families.
5 week course for Home Ed families
This course starts Friday 13th November, with the last session Friday 11th December.
What we'll be getting up to:
Over the 5 weeks, we’ll dive into all the basics of clay. The kids will get to try their hand at:
Hand-building basics: We’ll learn the core techniques like pinching, coiling, and slab work.
Adding some flair: We'll explore different ways to decorate and paint their pieces.
A bit of history & culture: We’ll look at how pottery is made in different cultures and sneak in a little bit of fascinating art history along the way.
Getting muddy: If we're lucky, we might even get to have some fun experimenting with wild clay!
The Details
When: Fridays from 10am to 12pm.
Ages: Perfect for anyone aged 6 to 18.
Cost: £125 for the full 5-week course.
What's included? Absolutely everything! All of your clay, materials, glazing, and kiln firings are covered in the price.
Sibling Discount: Have more than one creative kid? We offer a 10% sibling discount to help out.
Spaces are limited so we can make sure everyone gets plenty of help and attention. We’d love to have your family join us, grab a spot today and let's get making!







6:30pm-8:30pm
5 week Tuesday Evening Adult course
Starting Tuesday 10th November and running to 8th December.
For First-Time Potters: If you are new to the Art Shed, we begin with the fundamental building blocks of ceramics. You will receive step-by-step demonstrations in:
The Basics: Mastering pinching, coiling, and slab-building.
Surface Magic: Introduction to mark-making, slip application, and glazing.
Structured Success: Your first projects will be guided with specific prompts (such as functional mugs or decorative bowls) to ensure you leave with pieces you are proud of.
For Returning Learners & Experienced Potters: For those who have attended our evening courses before, the "scaffolding" shifts to support your individual artistic voice. You will be encouraged to:
Expand Your Scale: Moving from small vessels to larger, more complex forms.
Refine Your Technique: Incorporating advanced methods like Kurinuki (carving from solid blocks) or using specialised moulds.
Independent Projects: While the tutor is always on hand for troubleshooting, you will have the freedom to design your own work, with tailored feedback on structural integrity and aesthetic finish.