Swanspool Ceramics

Yet more lovely pieces.... More to come out of the kilns tomorrow 😀 Trying to clear the decks before our new session of courses begins on Monday! A few last-minute spaces available on our 10-week handbuilding course....

Autumn is approaching... beautiful pumpkins by Jenny 🙂

Another glaze load out of the kiln this afternoon... and this beauty! Well done, Melissa 🙂

We have 2 spaces available on our first wheel-throwing taster session of the autumn, next Saturday 22 September (10.30-12.30). Have a go at throwing your own pots on the wheel: we will then glaze and fire them for you. A fun and creative way to spend a Saturday morning! £50pp. Give us a call on (01604) 968533 or visit www.swanspoolceramics.co.uk to book your spot!

Just a couple of weeks to go until our next session of pottery courses begins on 24 September! Spaces still available on our Introduction to Handbuilding course on Monday evenings (6.30-9pm) or Thursday mornings (10am - 12.30pm). For more information, give us a call on (01604) 968533 or visit www.swanspoolceramics.co.uk.

Some finished articles, with mosaic-style Jordanian decoration, having been clear-glazed and glaze-fired. Beautiful!

Visited a lovely little workshop today (videos to follow!): the Petra Pottery Association in Petra, Jordan. Here, a small group of women potters (and one man, today, too!) keep alive the ancient pottery traditions of the region’s Nabatean past - here, they’re applying a sgraffito-style decoration technique that imitates the mosaics for which Jordan is famous. Great morning - and, despite the language barrier, we were even able to commiserate about our shared glazing problems!!

LAST CALL THIS WEEKEND for registration for this course: just 3 spaces left now. Minimum of 6 students required for this course to run: 5 currently registered. If you have been thinking about signing up...book now!

Only a few more days to go: our Pottery Crafternoon for MIND charity and in partnership with Simply Vintage Designs takes place this Sunday, 2 September (11am to 5pm)! A few spaces still left on the Christmas-decoration workshops at 11am and 2pm. There will also be tea/coffee & cake, studio demonstrations, a raffle in aid of MIND... and lots of fun! Book your spot online at the Facebook link below - hope to see you there 🙂

Regstration for this course will close at the end of this week: If you’re thinking of signing up, don’t miss out - 4 spaces left! A great introduction to pottery with experienced tutor Carol. Happy potting!

Stunning work by Andrew Macdermott! Join him for our Introduction to Handbuilding course this September: 10 weeks, Thursday mornings 10am-12.30pm commencing 27 September, £195pp. Book online at www.swanspoolceramics.co.uk

A fab afternoon making plates today with Rob Bibby in Woodnewton - we love the jigger-and-jolly machine! They will now be left to dry slowly on the moulds and in a few days will be ready to finish off prior to firing. Afternoon tea at the White Swan was an added bonus 🙂 A second workshop is scheduled for Thursday, 30 August (7-9pm) - spaces still available!

Thinking about trying pottery but not sure whether to opt for handbuilding or wheel-throwing? Why not have a go at both! Northamptonshire Adult Learning’s next 10-week course offering an introduction to both handbuilding and wheel-throwing commences Saturday, 15 September (10am - 12.30pm) here at Swanspool Ceramics. Book your spot at courses.northantsglobal.net (course code ASAM01AZ)

SEPTEMBER POTTERY COURSES ARE NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING! We have beginners’ wheel-throwing running on Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings and Friday mornings. Other levels of wheel-throwing, and daytime and evening handbuilding courses are also available. There’s something for everyone - join us to get creative with clay and learn a new skill! All courses commence week-beginning 24 September. Visit www.swanspoolceramics.co.uk for full details and to book.

***LAST-MINUTE AVAILABILITY***: 2 spaces have become available on our wheel-throwing taster session THIS COMING SATURDAY, 4 August (10.30-12.30), £50pp - give us a call on (01604) 968533 or visit www,swanspoolceramics.co.uk to book on. Spend a fun morning with us making your very own pots on the wheel!

Spectacular! Rachel's incredible hand-built teapot - a lot of time, energy and attention to detail went into this. Well done, Rachel, a real masterpiece!

This was such a great show... please sign the petition to help bring it back to our screens!

CHILDREN’S POTTERY WORKSHOPS - SUMMER 2018 Swanspool Ceramics is running two children’s summer pottery workshops this year on Thursday, 9 August and Thursday, 30 August (10am to 12 noon). Suitable for ages 6 and over. Join Carol for a creative morning hand-building your own clay creation. £30 per child. Online booking is available via the Events section of our Facebook page!

What a great experience! I am just completing an intermediate course at Swanspool Ceramics. In July this year I had never touched a potters wheel but had wanted to have a go for many years. I was gifted a beginners course which was brilliant. I found that having open access to the studio during the course gave me the opportunity to practice what I was taught during the lessons at my own pace. Sarah was (and is) very patient and, even now, is happy to recap on those basic techniques. Phil has also been very willing to offer advice and alternative methods to improve my skills. I have found everyone at the Studio, students and staff alike, to be friendly, passionate and simply happy to be in the Studio. Its been a pleasure which I hope will continue in 2018 x

What a find! Such a lovely environment in which to learn & develop - so welcoming & friendly. Sarah & Philip are great teachers; clear, patient & encouraging. They go above & beyond to help you. I'm amazed by what you can learn and make within six short weeks. I cannot recommend this place highly enough.

Went on the beginner course, absolutely love it and was amaze what we created and can do.

Sarah is a wonderful teacher ,I was very nervous because I am deaf but she really made me feel at home and alway happy to help if I miss anything,made some wonderful friends and we did have some laugh �

Very inspiring place definitely would recommend it to everyone x

Sarah is a fantastic (and patient) teacher! I just wish I lived closer so I could do more classes!!! Xx

My husband and I took the beginners course which finished in Dec. It was a fantastic course we both loved it. We learned how to throw pots on the wheel and had great fun with a lovely group of people. Sarah our teacher was excellent and very patient luckily as we certainly tested it !!



I would highly recommend this course, great teacher, beautiful studio. We really miss our Thursday evenings.

My husband and I did a couples wheel session for our anniversary and we absolutely loved it. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, we will definitely be coming back for more classes.

Just received my pot from our pottery taster session! It was such a fun morning . Thank you so much.

Just finished a weekend wheel throwing taster course. It was a really interesting and enjoyable experience and I'm amazed that after just two days I have five pots made, trimmed, painted and waiting for firing. Sarah was a very patient and supportive teacher and I've thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. I may be hooked!

It's totally addictive! Sarah is a great teacher and always has good advice. There is a really friendly atmosphere and like minded people to chat to.

I recently completed a 10wk pottery course through the adult learning programme. Met a great bunch of people and had a fab time, learning lots along the way. I found it tough at times, but only because I'm expecting a baby so felt I couldn't give it my all. I can't wait to book onto another course later in the year. Sarah is incredibly patient and very knowledgeable. Worth every penny in my opinion!

I have completed the 10week beginners course through the adult education program. I have to say that Sarah was an amazing teacher. Very helpful but also knew when to step back and let us master the wheel ourselves, building up our confidence as we learnt. �����

I have been a student here for nearly 10 months now and all i can say is that it is the most inspiring studio i have ever had the pleasure to be in! Not only are the lessons well structured and informative - they are fun and nurturing too. I have gone from never even being in the same room as a potters wheel to being able to create my own teapot and artworks in 6 months. A very very chuffed student here :)



The studio is such a lovely place to work in, i happily travel 50 mins each way to come for a class. The studio is inspiring, the surroundings are inspiring and Sarah is just an amazing, nurturing, knowledgeable and helpful teacher - her own work is pretty fab too!



To echo another reviewer - the only thing that can hold you back is your imagination - Sarah gives you the tools to create just about anything in clay...even Mousetopia :) !



I don't usually leave reviews online - but i simply have to for Swanspool Ceramics as it is an amazing centre for learning, inspiration and creativity.

I completed the beginners ten week course. I certainly wasn’t a natural but Sarah was really patient and definitely brought out the best of me. I loved throwing and glazing my pots and was really happy with my final pieces! Very inspiring ten weeks and had a great time along the way. Thank you !!

I can’t recommend Swanspool highly enough!



Sarah has created a welcoming, calming and creative environment with everything you could possibly need.



She is an excellent instructor, and with her help and that of many friendly students I have been able to make many pieces that I’m proud of.



Mum and I would be lost without Sarah and Swanspool - anyone thinking of having a go should definitely sign up. We started with a taster session and have been hooked ever since.



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Had such an amazing time here with special friends. Would highly recommend!

Had a fantastic weekend learning to throw pots here. A very friendly and well run place with plenty of tuition , coffee ,food and laughs throughout the whole time . Thank you again swanspool ceramics x

Fantastic place, friendly and well structured lessons, building skills which are put to good use. Who'd have thought that learning to make cylinders, then bowls, then how to attach handles and make lidded jars, then bottles would lead to teapots!!! Excellent teaching by Sarah who has endless patience. There is every opportunity to be creative in this supportive environment the only thing holding you back is your imagination. Can't recommend enough, join a class today!

Fabulous weekend learning how to throw pots and how to trim them. Had a great time. Sarah is extremely knowledgeable and very patient and helpful. She explained and demonstrated each stage really well. Lovely lunches and plenty of tea and coffee. Looking forward to seeing the finished glazed and fired pieces.

I would highly recommend.

Amazing experience, great place, great people. Thank you