Have you ever wanted to try your hand at pottery but felt unsure of where to start? Whether you’ve been inspired by shows like The Great Pottery Throw Down or simply want to do something mindful and creative, a beginner pottery class is the perfect place to begin. At Chisel Pottery, we welcome complete beginners every week, and we know that stepping into the studio for the first time can be both exciting and a little daunting.

To help you feel prepared (and even more excited!), here’s everything you can expect in your first pottery class…

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A Warm Welcome and Introduction

When you arrive at our Chichester or Selsey studio, you’ll be greeted by our friendly tutors and shown around the space. Our studios are designed to be calming, creative environments - with everything you need laid out and ready to go. We’ll start the session with a quick introduction, explain the tools and materials you’ll be using, and share a few tips on working with clay.

Don’t worry if you’ve never touched a potter’s wheel or rolled a slab of clay - our classes are designed for beginners, and we’ll guide you step-by-step through the process.

Getting Hands-On with Clay

The best way to learn pottery is to dive right in! Depending on the class you’ve booked, you’ll either work on the wheel (throwing) or with hand-building techniques like coiling, pinching, or slab building.

Wheel Throwing: You’ll learn how to center the clay (the trickiest but most rewarding part), shape it into a cylinder, and begin forming your very first pot.
Hand-Building: If you’re working by hand, you’ll learn techniques to create pinch pots, vases, or even a small set of bowls - the possibilities are endless!

There’s something special about feeling the clay respond to your touch and watching your piece slowly take shape.

Guidance Every Step of the Way

Our instructors are there to guide you, offer encouragement, and show you little tricks to make things easier. Pottery is about learning by doing, so even if your first piece wobbles or feels a bit lopsided, that’s all part of the fun (and honestly, we love a wonky pot - it shows personality!).

Decorating and Glazing

Once you’ve shaped your piece, you’ll often have the chance to add texture, patterns, or coloured slips for decoration. If your class includes glazing, we’ll help you choose a colour that suits your style.

After the class, we’ll handle the firing and glazing for you (don’t worry, we’ll explain how it works) so your piece is transformed into a beautiful, functional creation. Your finished work will be ready for collection a few weeks later - something to treasure and show off!

A Relaxed and Creative Environment

One of the things our students tell us they love most about pottery is how relaxing and mindful it is. As soon as your hands hit the clay, the stress of the day seems to melt away. Whether you come on your own, with friends, or as part of a group, our classes are welcoming, friendly, and full of laughter.

What to Bring (and Wear)

Pottery can get a little messy, so we recommend wearing comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting clay on (or we can provide aprons). You don’t need to bring anything - all materials, tools, and equipment are provided. Just bring an open mind and a willingness to have fun!

Ready to Give It a Go?

If you’ve been looking for a creative hobby or simply want to try something new, our Taster Pottery Experiences and Day of Clay workshops are perfect starting points. You’ll leave with a sense of achievement, a new skill, and maybe even a piece or two to take home.

Take the leap - your first pottery class could be the start of something amazing.