Hand Building with Francisco Zhan: Surface & Substance

Explore the relationship between form and surface in this 8-week handbuilding course led by artist Francisco Zhan.

With a strong focus on surface, texture, and decoration, this course approaches ceramics as both structure and skin – something to build, carve, mark, and transform. Alongside learning core handbuilding techniques, you’ll focus on how surface can shape and define the final work, from functional objects to more sculptural pieces.

Cultivating both technical skill and material experimentation, the course offers a space to build confidence with ceramic processes while developing your own ideas and direction. With a small group of up to 6 participants, sessions adapt to the group’s pace, with guidance tailored to support differing levels of experience, ambition and appetite.

What You’ll Gain
By the end of the course, you will:

Understand the full ceramic process, from raw clay to fired and finished work
Be confident using all core handbuilding techniques, including pinching, coiling, slab building, and carving
Develop a strong understanding of surface techniques, including slip decoration, texture, marbling, inlay, and sgraffito
Gain experience in glazing and finishing your work
Learn how to plan and realise your own ceramic projects
Build confidence working both technically and creatively with clay
You’ll also leave with a collection of handmade ceramic pieces that reflect your own ideas and approach.

Course Dates:

Week 1: Monday 4 May 2026
Week 2: Monday 11 May 2026
Week 3: Monday 18 May 2026
Week 4: Monday 25 May 2026
Week 5: Monday 1 June 2026
Week 6: Monday 8 June 2026
Week 7:  Monday 15 June 2026
Week 8: Monday 22 June 2026

Please note: Missed sessions cannot be rescheduled.

Class Times:

7.30pm – 10pm (2.5 hours per session)

Book now

Please note there is a 10% discount for City of London residents.

Hand Building with Lauren McNicoll: Body & Form

Explore clay through touch, movement, and intuition in this 8-week handbuilding course led by artist and educator Lauren McNicoll.

This course takes an embodied, process-led approach to ceramics, using your body and hands as tools for making. Alongside building a strong technical foundation, you’ll be encouraged to engage with clay in an instinctive and physical way, exploring how gesture, pressure, and repetition can shape form.

Rooted in Lauren’s sculptural practice, the sessions create space to experiment, play, and discover new ways of forming and thinking through clay.

Designed for all experience levels, each class combines guided learning with room to follow your own direction. With a small group of just six participants, you’ll have the time and support to develop your skills while exploring what feels most natural and enjoyable in your own creative process.

Sunday mornings, starting 3rd May. This course takes an embodied, process-led approach to ceramics, using your body and hands as tools for making. Alongside building a strong technical foundation, you’ll be encouraged to engage with clay in an instinctive and physical way, exploring how gesture, pressure, and repetition can shape form.

What You’ll Gain
By the end of the course, you will have:

A strong foundation in all fundamental handbuilding techniques, including coil building, slab building, pinching, and sculpting
Experience working with clay in both structured and experimental ways
An introduction to embodied making and using the body as a creative tool
Knowledge and experience of slip decoration techniques such as sgraffito, inlay and illustrative painting
The ability to plan and complete a self-led ceramic project
A collection of unique, handmade ceramic pieces
You’ll also leave with a deeper understanding of your own creative process, and a greater sense of confidence working with clay independently.

Course Dates:
Week 1: Sunday 3 May 2026
Week 2: Sunday 10 May 2026
Week 3: Sunday 17 May 2026
Week 4: Sunday 24 May 2026
Week 5: Sunday 31 May 2026
Week 6: Sunday 7 June 2026
Week 7: Sunday 14 June 2026
Week 8: Sunday 21 June 2026

Please note: Missed sessions cannot be rescheduled.

Class Times:

10am – 12:30pm (2.5 hours per session)

Book now

Please note there is a 10% discount for City of London residents.