Hot Fox Pottery
6-week hand-building courses
Make beautiful pottery in just 6 weeks, even if you've never touched clay before!
"I've done pottery courses before and have never seen the standard of pottery that's produced in this course."
Becky W
6 weeks (2.5 hours per session)
Maximum 7 students
Total beginners welcome; all levels catered for
£250
Free on-street parking available for all sessions
We are a small, family-run pottery studio, who really care about you and your pots. We provide a calm and comfortable environment in our lovely loft studio, with plenty of tea and chilled tunes.
Our weekly classes are divided into 6-week terms, and our courses are suitable for total beginners as well as those with more experience. We have lots of examples of the things you can make whatever stage you're at in our Next Steps section.
We have small class sizes (no more than 7 students), which allows our experienced tutors to give you lots of individual attention. Our students produce high-quality work that they (and we) feel genuinely proud of.
The courses are focused on hand-building techniques, but all students will get the opportunity to book an optional extra throwing session on the pottery wheel if they wish.
We've timed all our courses so that there's free on-street parking available, and if you miss a session we will do our best to offer a catch up class.
Hand-building offers complete flexibility - you can make something square, round, tall, chicken-shaped, or something that will exactly fit that space on your wall you've always wanted to decorate...
On our hand-building courses you will be taught the core techniques of coiling, pinch pots and soft and hard slabs. Master these skills and you can literally make anything you want to out of clay.
We know that when many people think 'pottery' they think of throwing on the wheel, and it looks really satisfying and fun. Which of course it is! But it really is only one (quite tricky) aspect of pottery.
In some ways throwing is a bit like driving; it's true that everyone can do it, but there's a knack and a feel, and while some people might learn quicker than others, everyone still needs tens or hundreds of hours of practice before they can do anything useful.
Have a look at this slide show to see images of the incredible hand-built work created by our students, and you will get an idea of the scope that these techniques can bring.
Gallery of hand-built student work
If you are a beginner, or are not confident to work more independently yet, we will take you through projects which will introduce you to the fundamental principles of hand-building (pinch-pots, coils & slabs). You will still have flexibility to make what you want and develop your own style.
You'll also get the opportunity to experiment with a range of glazes and decoration techniques. We can show you how to sgrafitto, underglaze, use textures and carving, as well as introduce you to our huge range of brush-on glazes. The possibilities are literally endless!
If you have some pottery experience already, then you can bring ideas for projects you would like to make, and we will support you to make them come to life!
All our courses are suitable for any level of skill, and we have developed a Next Steps System so you can progress your pottery skills and keep stretching yourself to develop (and furnish your home with beautiful objects!) on future courses.
"I was a complete beginner to pottery, I'm still astounded with the pieces I made."
Mel M
Though we are confident that you will become a hand-building convert, we know that you might also like to try the wheel out too.
Therefore, if you do fancy getting mucky and having a go at throwing, there is the opportunity to extend your course and add an optional extra throwing session on the 7th week.
This 2.5 hour session will run at the same time as your normal class, and you and another student will share a wheel and have the opportunity to try throwing and learn from each other's mistakes!
The extra class costs £40 for 2.5 hours (a big discount on our normal throwing workshops), and if you get the throwing bug we can talk to you about having further tuition, and practice in our open studio.
Life happens, and we allow you to re-book one make-up session per term if you miss a class for any reason.
These will be available during the times of another class (where space allows), or during the scheduled catch up session we will run towards the end of the course.
If absolutely everyone ends up missing a session we might run out of space, but luckily that is very rare!
6-week Course Dates
June - July 2026
Time: 12 - 2.30pm
Dates: 8th June, (No class 15th June), 22nd, 29th June, 6th, 13th & 20th July
Time: 7 - 9.30pm
Dates: 8th June, (No class 15th June), 22nd, 29th June, 6th, 13th & 20th July
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
Time: 7 - 9.30pm
Dates: 10th June, (No class 17th June), 24th June, 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd July
Please Note: The optional throwing sessions at the end of these courses, will be planned according to everyone's availability.
Cost
£250 for 6 weeks
Optional throwing session: £40 (can be paid for in class)
This price includes use of clay, a range of glazes, underglazes and slips. We allow one cach-up session if you miss a class.
Firing costs are charged at £1 per 100g of fired, finished work. (On average people pay £15- 20, depending on what they make.)
Demand for the classes is high and spaces are limited to only 7 people per class, so book up soon to secure a place.
Payment online in full is preferred, but if you would like to discuss paying in two instalments, please email us as we are happy to consider this.
If you have any questions you can email contact@hotfoxpottery.com, or call Alice on 07733 028434.
Weekly Classes FAQ
How much does a 6-week pottery course cost?
A 6-week course is £250, which includes tuition, clay, and basic glazing and decoration. After the course there are firing costs, which usually come to around £15-20 unless you make something unusually large or complex. If you'd like to try our premium brush-on glazes, most people add about £5 testing them on a mug. So for nearly everyone, there are no nasty surprises. We're upfront about every cost because we'd rather you trusted us than felt caught out.
How many people are in each class?
We never have more than 7 students in a class. This is our strength. We’re small enough that we know your name, see what you're working on, and give you real individual attention, whether you're a complete beginner or more experienced. It's a genuinely different experience from a big, busy studio.
Do I need any experience?
Not at all! Our courses are completely beginner-friendly, and we nearly always have first-timers on every course. We’re very used to tailoring our teaching to your individual needs. Total newcomers and improvers learn happily side by side, each getting the attention they need.
How long is the course and when does it run?
The course runs over 6 weeks: five weeks of making, then a final glazing week. Each session is 2.5 hours. We run courses at either 12 noon or 7pm to keep parking easy for you. Days can vary through the year around public holidays — so check our current dates when you book.
What will I make and learn?
Our courses focus entirely on hand-building, and most students make 3 or 4 finished pieces over the six weeks. A good example might be functional things like a mug, a bowl and a vase, though we happily accommodate any (non-insane!) requests. If you'd like to try the wheel, you can add a throwing session at the end for £40pp, but it's entirely optional and not expected.
What's the difference between hand-building and wheel throwing?
Hand-building means shaping clay by hand (pinching, coiling and slab-building) rather than using a potter's wheel. We focus on hand-building because it's wonderfully accessible for beginners, and lets you make beautiful, unique pieces from your very first session, without the steep learning curve of the wheel. You can still add a taster throwing session if you're curious.
When will I get my finished pieces?
For our courses, firing usually takes about 2 weeks after your glazing week, as we use high-quality stoneware that's fired at high temperatures over multiple firings. This will all be explained in more detail during the course. You can collect your finished pieces from our Brighton studio once they're ready.
Do I need to bring anything?
Nothing special at all; just yourself. It helps to come with a few ideas about what you'd like to make, but keep an open mind: students almost always over-reach at first! A loose moodboard of things you like or that inspire you is far more useful than trying to copy an exhibition-level piece from Pinterest, and we'll guide you to something achievable that you’ll be properly proud of.