Description

This course considers both traditional and contemporary approaches to slip application, methods which grew out of post-medieval English pot-making and then later flourished in the celebrated 17th and 18th chargers and elaborate slipwares of Staffordshire.

The 4½ day schedule will allow for a strong emphasis on experimentation, both in exploring technique and in assisting each student’s approach to the development of design and mark-making in slips. Following this, participants will experiment with making and decorating slabbed, hump-moulded flatwares. There will also be opportunity to make wheel-thrown and altered shallow-walled bakers and servers.

Skill level: The workshop welcomes Intermediate and Advanced makers of varied levels of experience and ability, but it is not open to absolute Beginners. You need to have had some previous regular experience working with clay. But if you are completely new to earthenware and slip-decoration, you are very welcome to apply for a place. The studio invites a maximum of 9 students for this course. 

Schedule:  The 4½ day course begins on the afternoon of Wednesday 27th May, 2pm – 5pm, completing at 4pm on Sunday 31st May 2026. Tuition hours otherwise are 10am-4pm. The studio is freely available for students to work outside of these hours, early or late. Sue Bailey’s fabulous home-made vegetarian lunches on Thursday through to Sunday, along with morning and afternoon refreshments are included in the course fee. Sue is a passionate chef, miller and baker, founder of Grist and champion of local growers and producers.

Firing: Patia will help you to select a maximum of 4 of the best completed shallow dishes and bakers which she will later raw-glaze and gloss fire. A charge in addition to the course fee will be made for these gloss-fired pots at £4/lb. These will be weighed and invoiced post-firing. The pieces you select for firing must carry a maker’s seal, initials, or signature. Fired pieces are ideally collected in person, though courier delivery can be arranged for students living further afield.

Facilities: We have two large Roderveld slab-rollers at Wobage to cater for your prolific slab-rolling. Each participant will enjoy unlimited access to a power wheel for the full duration, although the main emphasis of this individual course is hand-building with moulds. The wheels are Fitzwilliam Rayefcos and Alsagers and the Rayefcos have hand-ratchet control which is of benefit for throwing larger and wider forms. All students will use Patia’s earthenware clay recipe which she mixes on site.

Student discount: If you are 25 yrs or under, and a Full-time student in Higher Education, or you are within your first year after having graduated, this course invites a 20% discount. Which makes the course fee £576.00. If you would like to apply for this, please send us a request by e-mail.

Patia’s beautiful slip-decorated earthenware has become internationally celebrated and collected in recent years. Whilst being rooted in traditional methods, it exhibits a contemporary timelessness and expertise, which along with close influences from the nature around her home in the Forest of Dean, makes for an intriguing and seductive range of practical pots. 

More information about Patia and her work is available on the Tutors pages.

Top photo: with kind permission of Layton Thompson