Our popular Cairngorms Clay Club is back next month, offering you the perfect way to start off your pottery year in relaxed surroundings. This popular weekly class is a great opportunity to develop your ceramic skills, whether you’re completely new to pottery or looking to build confidence with handbuilding techniques.
For the first Clay Club session of 2026, we’ll be running the course slightly differently. The programme will run for six weeks rather than eight.
And the focus will entirely on handbuilding, taught by our resident artist, Angus Grant. There will be no throwing on the wheel this time around. This is due to space restrictions in the Spey Bank Studio pottery.
You’ll begin by learning essential handbuilding skills before progressing to slab building, allowing you to create larger and more complex ceramic forms. No previous experience with clay is needed, making this course ideal for beginners.
In the past, Clay Club students have made mugs, platters, butter dishes and jewellery holders so bring your own ideas of what to make. You will also learn decoration techniques and the course price includes four finished and fired pieces to take home (additional items can be purchased at £10 per item.)
All tools are provided, along with source imagery for inspiration, though you’re very welcome to bring your own reference images.
Places are limited and advance booking is essential.
Ceramic decoration
And if you can't commit to a six-week course, we have a one-off class scheduled at the end of February.
Angus will teach you the basics of sgraffito - a striking technique that involves scratching a surface to reveal contrasting layers beneath.
Then you'll create your own design for a ceramic teapot.
No experience is necessary so this is great for beginners.
Visit our Classes page now to claim your place!
