Ceramic Classes & Pottery Workshops Near You
Inspired by The Great Pottery Throwdown and want to learn a new creative hobby? Discover the art of hand-building with clay at our St Neots Crafty Monkey studio. Our pottery classes focus on tactile, hands-on techniques, like pinching, coiling, and slab buildingt, o create unique ceramics without the need for a pottery wheel.
Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, our clay workshops offer a therapeutic escape in a relaxed studio environment. Learn pottery techniques and create and paint your own ceramic piece in our welcoming space, located between Bedford and Cambridge.
Make & Paint
Unlike some pottery classes, at Crafty Monkey, you will make and paint your pottery creation in the same class. There's no extra charge!
Gift a Pottery Experience
Want to gift for a a therapeutic and relaxing experience? Gift
Treat loved one's to a Crafty Monkey gift card or voucher that can be redeemed for a ceramic workshop. Great for art and craft lovers, birthdays, Chrismas or Valentine's.
Crafty Monkey Pottery Class Links
Pottery Making Options at Crafty Monkey
Introduction to Hand‑Building
Pottery Taster Lesson
A relaxed beginner‑friendly session where you’ll be taught the basics of working with clay - pinching, coiling and slab‑building before deciding which method to use for your make.
It's an ideal class if new to pottery and want to learn the fundamentals and differnt methods of hand‑building.
Core Pottery Classes
Main Pottery Workshops
Our Core Pottery Making Classes are the foundation for many of our listed pottery projects. You'll learn the essential hand‑building skills needed to create a wide range of pottery pieces.
Everyone starts by building the same (or a very similar) base structure, then personalises it to create their chosen creations.
Pottery Projects
Choose What to Make
We offer a wide range of themed pottery makes from functional pieces like mugs, pots and planters to decorative creations such as highland cows, gnomes and Taylor‑Swift‑inspired trinket dishes.
Some of our projects are taught within one or more of our Core Pottery Classes. See project info to find which Core Class to book.
Drying & Firing Process
After your class, your piece stays with us to fully dry before we glaze and kiln fire. This process takes 4–5 weeks and we email when it's ready to collect.
List of Pottery Workshops Offered
Explore our range of instructor-led pottery classes held at our St Neots studio. From fundamental hand-building techniques to seasonal specials, our beginner-friendly ceramic making workshops are designed to help you create something from clay you're proud of!
Why Choose Crafty Monkey Pottery Classes
Full Instruction
We guide you through each step of the process, offering tips and techniques as you go.
Materials Provided
Your class includes clay, use of sculpting tools, stamps, cutters and underglaze paints.
Affordable Pricing
Our classes are competitively priced to ensure everyone can experience the joy of pottery.
Small Business
By chooing us, you'll be supporting a small independent local business.
Small Groups
We keep our groups small to ensure individual attention if needed.
Relaxed Environment
Enjoy a friendly and supportive atmosphere that fosters creativity and relaxation.
Sustainable Business
We employ sustainable practices as the environment is important to us Learn more
Make & Paint
Pottery workshops at Crafty Monkey allow you to make and paint your item during the same session.
Pottery Lesson Info & FAQ's
What is a hand-building pottery class?
Hand-building is a traditional pottery technique that involves creating forms without a potter's wheel. Instead, you use your hands, simple tools and a variety of techniques to shape, sculpt and mould the clay into beautiful, unique ceramic pieces.
Our hand-building pottery classes at our St Neots studio are beginner-friendly, so no experience is needed.
What is included in a Crafty Monkey pottery class?
Our pottery classes include all the materials you need, including clay, tools, and underglaze paints if you paint your piece during the class. You'll also receive expert instruction from our experienced tutors, who will guide you step by step. Firing your creations in our kiln is also included in the price.
Can I take home pottery made at a class the same day?
Your pottery piece will need to be left to dry naturally before it's fired in our kiln. This process can take 3-5 weeks.
Once your piece has been fired, we'll let you know it's ready and ask you to book a pick-up slot.
Can I book a private pottery class or clay party for a group?
Yes! We run private pottery classes and clay parties for groups - perfect for birthdays, team-building events or a fun day out with friends.
To arrange one, please fill in the enquiry form at the bottom of our Groups & Parties page with your group size, the class you'd like to do and your preferred dates.
What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule my pottery class?
We understand that plans change. Pottery classes and workshops are paid for in advance, so they have their own cancellation policy. Whether you can reschedule or get a refund depends on how much notice you give.
Please see our pottery class and workshop cancellation policy for full details.
Do you offer gift vouchers for pottery classes?
Yes, we sell gift cards and gift vouchers, which make a great present for anyone interested in trying their hand at pottery.
Our e-gift cards are the best option, as they can be used online to book and pay for a class. They can also be used in our studio. If you opt for a physical voucher, the recipient will need to get in touch with us for a code to use for the booking.
You can buy either online or in our St Neots studio.
Will I get to paint the pottery I make in the same class?
Yes, if time allows and your piece is stable and dry enough, you can decorate it during the class with our pottery underglazes.
If that's not possible, your instructor will go through the options for painting it at a later date, or you can go au naturel and have it clear glazed.
Can my clay piece crack or break during firing?
Due to the nature of clay, problems such as cracks or pieces becoming detached can happen during the making, drying and firing process. We'll show you how to minimise this during your class. If something does happen to your piece, we'll do our best to fix it, but please be aware this isn't always possible.
What should I wear to a pottery class?
Playing with clay can be messy as you're effectively playing with mud! Like mud, clay and our underglazes wash easily out of clothing but we advise wearing something comfortable that you don't mind getting mucky. Feel free to bring an apron.
Are your pottery classes at your St Neots studio beginner-friendly?
We cater for all skill levels and no experience is necessary! Our pottery classes are designed for beginners as well as those with some experience, and we'll teach you what you need to know for the item you're making.
Our Introduction to Hand-Building taster class is great for beginners who have never touched clay before and want to learn the basics.
Our other clay workshops, where you make a specific item, are also beginner-friendly and suitable for people with no experience.
How long does a pottery class last?
Most of our pottery classes last between 2 and 3 hours. This should allow plenty of time for you to learn new techniques, create your piece, paint it and enjoy the creative process.
Are your pottery classes for adults and children?
Most of our pottery workshops are aimed at adults, and most people who come are adults. Children aged 8 and over can join too, but under 10s need to be accompanied by a paying adult who's also taking part.
We also occasionally run children-only clay classes, usually during the school holidays.
Check each workshop's details for its age guide.
How do I book a pottery class at Crafty Monkey?
You can easily book a pottery class through our online booking system. Simply choose the class you’re interested in, select a date, fill in the booking form and complete the payment online.
If looking at the project based workshops, you'll be able to see which core pottery class to book in order to make the item.
See our list of pottery classes we offer or our pottery workshop schedule
Can I bring my own ideas or designs to a pottery class?
Yes! We encourage creativity and welcome any ideas or designs you have in mind. Our instructors can help you bring your vision to life, whether it’s a specific project or a unique design.
What is the maximum number of participants in a pottery class?
To make sure everyone gets plenty of attention, our classes usually take around 8 people, depending on the project. This allows for personal guidance and a comfortable working space.
If you have a bigger group, please fill in the enquiry form at the bottom of our Groups & Parties page with your group size, the class you'd like to do and when you'd like to do it.
Do you have a pottery wheel at your St Neots studio?
I'm afraid we don't have enough space for a pottery wheel. All our classes are hand-building, using pinch, coil and slab techniques.
What can I make at a Crafty Monkey pottery class?
At Crafty Monkey you can create a wide variety of pottery, including pots, planters, tea-light lanterns, mugs, trinket dishes and even decorative pieces like our very popular Highland Cow, pinch pot pumpkins or boob pots.
Each class may focus on a specific project, or you can join our Introduction to Pottery class and choose what you'd like to create. Be sure to check the details when booking.
If you've been on one of our workshops or have some pottery experience, you can book a self-led pottery session and make what you like - within reason!
Can you post my pottery once it's ready?
We do offer a postal service; however, some pieces may be too delicate to send safely through the post.
If your item is suitable for posting,please note that, while we package well, we cannot accept responsibility for any damage that may occur once it is in the hands of the postal service.