My Raku Pottery experience with Hot Fox Pottery: Fire, glaze, nature and letting go

An interview with Damien who attended a beginner-friendly Raku workshop in the Sussex woods.

"I usually don’t feel good enough at craft but this was completely different."

Q: What made you decide to try a raku pottery workshop with Hot Fox Pottery?

I was curious about Raku, but also a little nervous. I am one of those people who loves the idea of making things, but when it comes to craft, I often feel as if I am not "good enough". I can get caught up in whether something looks right, whether I am doing it properly, or whether everyone else is more creative than me.

But the Raku day with Hot Fox Pottery felt completely different. It was not about perfection. It was about experience, transformation, surprise and being present.

From the moment I arrived in the woods, I felt that this was going to be more than just a pottery workshop. It was a creative day out in nature, surrounded by trees, birdsong, fire, clay and smoke. There was something deeply grounding about it.

"The woodland setting made the whole experience feel almost spiritual."

Q: What was the setting like?

The setting was one of the most special parts of the day. The Raku workshop takes place in beautiful East Sussex woodland, near Lewes, and that changed everything for me.

Instead of being in a formal studio, I felt held by the natural surroundings. Being outside, working with clay, glaze, fire, smoke and water made the whole process feel connected to the elements.

There was something almost spiritual about it, not in a forced way, but in a quiet, natural way. It felt ancient and simple: hands, earth, fire, air, water, trees. It took me out of my head and back into my body.

For anyone looking for a mindful pottery experience, a creative wellbeing activity, or simply a different kind of day out in Sussex, this is very special.

"It felt perfect for introverts and neurodivergent people like me."

Q: Did the group setting feel comfortable?

Yes, and this was really important to me. As an introvert and a neurodivergent person, I can sometimes find group activities overwhelming, especially when there is pressure to socialise, perform, or be constantly "on".

This rRaku experience did not feel like that at all.

Because the workshop takes place in nature, there is space, physically and emotionally. You can be part of the group, but you can also step back when you need to. You can wander a little, focus on your piece, listen, observe, or simply take in the woodland setting.

There was no forced socialising. That made a huge difference.

The atmosphere felt welcoming and relaxed, but not demanding. I could connect with others when I wanted to, and I could also have quiet moments on my own. For neurodivergent people, introverts, highly sensitive people, or anyone who can feel overstimulated in busy workshop environments, the natural setting makes the experience feel much more accessible and calming.

It gave me permission to enjoy being creative in my own way.

"Raku is perfect for beginners because you don’t have to control everything."

Q: Would you recommend it for beginners?

Absolutely. In fact, I think Raku is a brilliant pottery experience for beginners because the process itself is unpredictable. You are not expected to create a perfect object. The fire, smoke and glaze all play their part, and every piece comes out differently.

That was liberating for me. I did not have to be a skilled craftperson. I did not have to know all the techniques. I could simply choose my piece, decorate it, glaze it, watch it go into the kiln, and then see how the flames transformed it.

There is a real magic in that.

For anyone who thinks, "I’m not artistic", or "I’m not good at craft", I would say: this is exactly the kind of creative workshop to try. It is welcoming, relaxed and exciting, and the results are unique because of the process, not because you have to be perfect.

"Watching the fire change the pottery was unforgettable."

Q: What was the most memorable part of the day?

The firing. Definitely the firing.

There is something incredible about seeing pottery come out of the kiln red hot, then watching the fire and smoke interact with the glaze. You understand, in a very physical way, that the finished piece is not just something you have decorated. It has been through a transformation.

The flames, the smoke, the heat, the waiting and the reveal all create a sense of anticipation. And then when the colours start to emerge, it feels like opening a gift from the fire.

No two pieces are the same, and that is part of the joy. You make choices, but you also have to let go.

"My piece became a tribute to the Survivor Tree of Shoreham."

Q: Tell us about the piece you made.

My realisation during the day was that I wanted to make something dedicated to the Survivor Tree of Shoreham-by-Sea, the poplar tree of Eastern avenue. I wanted to create something that could hang on the trunk which will be connected to memory, resilience and nature.

That gave my piece a deeper meaning. It was not just an object I had made during a pottery workshop. It became a small tribute. A personal marker. Something born from clay, fire and reflection.

Because we were in the woods, surrounded by trees, that idea felt even more powerful. I was making a piece for a tree while standing among trees. It felt circular and right.

The Raku process suited that perfectly because it carries marks of transformation. The fire leaves its trace. The smoke leaves its trace. The glaze changes in ways you cannot fully predict. That felt very fitting for a piece about survival and resilience.

"It would be fantastic for team building."

Q: Do you think this would work well for workplace groups or team-building days?

Yes, very much. I can imagine this being a fantastic creative team-building activity for HR teams, workplaces, away days and group bookings.

It is collaborative without being competitive. People can talk, laugh, compare ideas, support each other and then share the excitement of seeing their finished Raku pieces emerge from the fire. It gives everyone something to focus on, but it also creates space for conversation and connection.

For teams who spend a lot of time on screens or in meetings, this would be such a refreshing change. You are outdoors, using your hands, learning something new, and experiencing something memorable together.

I also think it could work beautifully as an inclusive team-building activity because people do not all have to participate in the same way. More outgoing people can enjoy the group energy, while quieter, introverted or neurodivergent people can take space when they need it. That balance is rare and valuable.

It is also ideal because beginners can take part. You do not need previous pottery experience, and that makes it accessible for mixed groups. Everyone starts from the same place: curiosity.

"I left feeling fulfilled."

Q: How did you feel at the end of the day?

I felt fulfilled.

I arrived with some of my usual doubts about craft and creativity, but I left with something I had made, something meaningful, and a feeling that the process had given me more than I expected.

The combination of nature, pottery, fire, glazing and people created an experience that stayed with me. It was creative, grounding, exciting and surprisingly emotional.

I did not feel judged. I did not feel like I had to be "good". I did not feel like I had to socialise in a particular way. I felt invited into the process.

That is what made it so different.

Q: Who would you recommend this Raku workshop to?

I would recommend Hot Fox Pottery’s Raku workshop to complete beginners, pottery lovers, experienced ceramicists, creative people, nervous makers, nature lovers, introverts, neurodivergent people, and anyone looking for an unusual experience day in Sussex.

It would also be wonderful for team building, wellbeing days, HR away days, creative group activities, birthdays, thoughtful gifts, and anyone who wants to try pottery in a more elemental and memorable way.

For pottery makers, I think the experience would be fantastic. The Raku process is so alive. Even if you already understand clay, there is something thrilling about watching fire and smoke become part of the final surface.

For beginners, it is freeing. You can let go of perfection and enjoy the surprise.

For introverts and neurodivergent people, the woodland setting offers something very precious: space, calm, sensory richness, and the freedom to step in and out of the group naturally.

Final thoughts

My Raku day with Alice and Tom from Hot Fox Pottery, and the group, was not just a craft workshop. It was a day in nature, a lesson in letting go, and a reminder that creativity does not have to be perfect to be powerful.

It was clay, fire, smoke, glaze, trees and transformation.

And somehow, by the end of the day, I felt transformed too.