Paint Your Own Pottery in St Neots

You can buy gift cards and gift vouchers online or in our St Neots studio, and they can be used towards any of our activities.

E-gift cards are our most flexible option. Choose the amount and the date you'd like it emailed, and we'll send it straight to your inbox or the recipient's. They can be used online to book sessions and buy pottery painting kits - and they can't be lost! Buy an e-gift card.

Gift vouchers can be bought in the studio, or ordered online to collect from the studio or have posted to you or the recipient.

When you book a pottery painting session at Crafty Monkey, you'll be allocated 1 hour and 45 minutes, which includes time to choose your item and get settled.

This is usually enough time for most people. Young children can finish within 30-45 minutes, while adults painting detailed pieces may need longer. If availability allows, we're happy for you to stay longer.

Tip: if you think you'll need longer, we recommend booking a midweek session before 2pm, especially during school holidays or the lead-up to Christmas.

Book Pottery Painting

Yes! Pottery painting at Crafty Monkey isn't just for kids - it's a fun, creative and relaxing activity that adults love too! It's suitable for adults, children, families and groups of all ages.

We have a wide selection of pottery pieces to suit every age and ability - from items ideal for younger children to pieces adults love to paint.

Our general pottery painting sessions have no age restrictions, but we find toddlers under 18 months may not engage for very long (we also offer handprint and footprint sessions on ceramic pieces for babies and toddlers). We use safe, non-toxic paints, making it a fun and creative activity for little ones to express themselves and make something truly unique.

Our Sip & Paint Pottery evenings and event nights are designed for adults who want to enjoy art in a laid-back social setting, but ages 12 and up are welcome to attend with adults.

Whether you're planning a kids' party, a family day out, a fun date activity or a relaxing session with friends, our studio makes painting ceramics accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Yes! As well as hosting groups at our St Neots studio, we offer a mobile pottery painting service and can bring the session to you - at your workplace, home, school, community hall, pub or café. Minimum numbers apply (usually 12 or more people) and an attendance fee applies.

We can also run group and party sessions at our studio outside our normal opening hours (an opening fee applies).

Prefer to run it yourself? Our pottery painting take-home kits are perfect for parties, school groups or painting at home.

To arrange a session at your venue or out of hours, fill in the enquiry form at the bottom of our Groups & Parties page.

Yes! At Crafty Monkey we use food-safe ceramic glazes, so your pottery is completely safe for eating and drinking once it's been glazed and kiln-fired. Your finished piece isn't just decorative - it can be a mug for your morning coffee, a bowl for snacks or a plate for serving up treats.

We take great care to make sure our materials meet food safety standards, so you can enjoy your handmade ceramics with confidence. We do recommend hand-washing to preserve the finish and avoid wear over time.

If you're creating a special gift or planning to use your piece every day, let our team know and we'll make sure it's glazed and fired to perfection.

No, our underglaze paints are water-based and won't stain. They wipe off skin and surfaces with water and come out of clothing in a normal wash. Once dry, the paint turns to a soft powder, so it doesn't leave permanent marks.

Pottery painting is generally low-mess, especially for adults, so there's no need for aprons or special gear. Just come relaxed and ready to get creative!

Unfortunately, we can't work with pottery that hasn't come from our studio. This makes sure all materials are compatible with our glazes and firing process, for a high-quality finish.

Of course! Pottery painting at Crafty Monkey, St Neots is all about enjoying the creative process, not perfection. Whether you’re a complete beginner or haven’t picked up a paintbrush since school, you’ll feel right at home.

We have a wide selection of easy‑to‑paint ceramic pieces for all ages, plus tools, stencils, and stamps to help you design something unique - no artistic experience required. We also give you instructions once you've chosen your pottery piece to paint. It’s a relaxed, fun activity focused on self‑expression and creativity.

Our friendly team is always on hand with tips and guidance, so you’ll leave with a piece you’re proud of and maybe even a newfound love for pottery and crafts.

Absolutely! We encourage creativity and love seeing unique designs. You can bring your own ideas, sketches or inspiration, and our friendly staff can offer tips and guidance to help you bring your vision to life. You can also trace a design you've printed off onto the pottery before you paint it.

If you're stuck for ideas, check out our Pinterest or Instagram.

Yes! Our artists can hand-paint bespoke ceramics for you - ideal if you'd rather leave the painting to us, or want a professional finish or a design that's all your own.

Whether you're after a personalised wedding gift, a Christening keepsake or a special birthday present, we can create a custom piece that's truly one of a kind.

Not local? No problem! You can order online and have your personalised pottery delivered straight to your door.

Ceramic Personalised Gifts

Yes please. We ask that all visits are booked online, even if it's just 30 minutes before you arrive. If we have space we can sometimes fit in walk-ins, but booking is the only way to guarantee your spot. We don't take bookings over the phone.

Booking ahead matters most at weekends, during school holidays and in the run-up to Christmas, when we're at our busiest. Some activities, like baby handprint keepsakes, pottery classes and group workshops, only run on certain days and times, and we sometimes have private groups or big parties booked in.

It's also important to book the right session for what you want to do. If your plans change, you can usually reschedule from your confirmation email.

Pottery painting prices at Crafty Monkey vary depending on the ceramic item you choose. Prices start from £5 for smaller pieces, with a wide selection of ceramics to suit every budget - from mugs and plates to figurines and seasonal items.

There's also a £4.50 studio fee per painter, which covers all materials, glazing and kiln firing to finish your ceramic masterpiece.

Want to browse before you book? You can see prices of our ready-to-paint pottery in our online shop.

Yes! We run BYOB Sip & Paint Pottery Nights for adults, usually on a Friday evening. They're relaxed, creative sessions, ideal for a night out with friends, a date night or some time to unwind. You're welcome to bring your own alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks are available to buy. Ages 12+ are welcome with an adult.

We also run occasional themed event nights at the studio, and pottery painting events at other local venues.

To hear about new dates first, follow us on social media or join our mailing list.

Once pottery has been painted at our St Neots studio, you'll need to leave it with us so we can glaze and kiln-fire it. Your finished ceramic piece is usually ready to collect in around two weeks, and we'll email you with a link to book a pick-up slot.

In many cases your pottery may be ready sooner, but occasionally we may need to re-fire an item, which could cause a slight delay.

Need it faster? We offer a speedy firing service for an extra fee, and your piece can typically be ready within 3 to 5 days - great for last-minute gifts or tight schedules.

While our painted ceramics are glazed and kiln-fired for durability, we don’t recommend using them in the dishwasher, microwave, or oven. A gentle hand wash is best to preserve your piece long-term.

If your pottery accidentally ends up in the dishwasher once or twice, it’s usually fine—but repeated exposure to high heat and detergent may cause fading or damage over time.

As for the microwave or oven, we advise against it. Handmade pottery isn’t designed to handle rapid temperature changes, which can lead to cracking or crazing.

For full details on how to care for your ceramics, check out our pottery care instructions.

We use specialist underglaze paints made for pottery and ceramic painting studios. They're water-based, certified non-toxic, safe for all ages (including babies' hand and footprints) and food-safe once glazed and fired.

Pottery painting is a relaxing, creative activity that many people find therapeutic and calming. It's a great way to unplug from screens, focus on something hands-on and switch off from everyday stress.

Whether you're painting on your own, with friends or as a family, it's a gentle way to boost your mood, spend quality time together and come away with something you've made yourself.

At Crafty Monkey, you'll find a huge range of pottery pieces to paint. We have over 600 items - from coasters, mugs, plates and bowls to vases, figurines and seasonal favourites like Christmas ornaments and our ever-popular baubles. We're always updating our selection, so there's something fresh to inspire every visit.

Want to browse before you book? Check out our pottery range in our online shop and use the search bar to find exactly what you're looking for.

For pottery and ceramic painting ideas, take a look at our social media channels and our blog, where we often post designs to inspire you. You can also see our Instagram feed on our website, or browse our different Pinterest boards.