Set within the Old Builders Yard at Quex Park, the studio has been thoughtfully created by ceramicist Violet Shaw. The space itself began life as an old barn which has been lovingly renovated to create a calm and welcoming pottery studio surrounded by beautiful mature trees. The result is a nurturing and peaceful environment where beginners and experienced potters alike can explore the craft of ceramics.
For Violet, pottery is more than just a hobby – it’s part of her life story. Having grown up above her family’s pottery studio and shop in Cambridgeshire, she developed a deep connection with ceramics from an early age. Over the years she has taught hundreds of pottery classes, run her own ceramic studio and built a thriving creative practice of her own. Pottery in the Yard represents the next chapter in that journey: a space designed to share the magic of clay with others.
The studio offers a variety of pottery experiences throughout the year, from relaxed social evenings to structured courses that guide participants through the fundamentals of the craft. For those completely new to pottery, beginner courses introduce the essential techniques such as hand-building, coil and slab methods, and even throwing on the potter’s wheel. Participants can create several pieces throughout the course and watch their skills develop week by week.
If you’re simply looking for a fun and creative evening, the studio’s “Clay Social” sessions provide a relaxed way to get involved. These friendly two-hour sessions invite guests to enjoy a chilled evening in the cosy studio while working on a guided project or experimenting with their own ideas. Whether you come alone or with friends, the atmosphere is welcoming and informal, with the added bonus that your finished piece will be glazed and fired ready for collection a few weeks later.
Families are also well catered for. Special kids’ pottery classes offer young creators the chance to design and decorate their own pottery from scratch. With guidance from experienced tutors, children can shape, decorate and personalise their creations before they are glazed and fired in the kiln, turning their clay masterpiece into a lasting keepsake.
What makes Pottery in the Yard particularly special is its atmosphere. Rather than feeling like a traditional classroom, the studio is designed to be a calm creative retreat where people can unwind, meet like-minded makers and reconnect with the simple joy of creating with their hands. It’s a place where mistakes become part of the process and where every finished piece carries its own story.
Whether you’re searching for a new hobby, a creative night out with friends, or an inspiring activity for the family, Pottery in the Yard offers something refreshingly different. Hidden in the heart of Quex Park, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best experiences come from slowing down, shaping something with your hands, and enjoying the quiet satisfaction of making something entirely your own.
