Under the Sea Pottery Workshop

Come and join Helen for an Under the Sea sculpture workshop and explore ocean forms in clay and create your own expressive sea-inspired piece.

This workshop is designed to be a relaxed, friendly space where you can meet new people, create, learn and have fun.

Throughout the day, Helen will guide you through traditional hand-building skills and techniques to create a beautiful sea-inspired sculpture. You’ll learn how to form pinch pots, add surface textures and sculpt marine details, as well as experiment with colour to bring your piece to life.

All materials and equipment are provided.

Tea and coffee will be available throughout the day for a small donation, just bring a packed lunch and an apron (or wear old clothes).

If you can trim your nails beforehand, that will help when working with soft clay.

After the workshop, Helen will carefully take your finished piece home to fire in her kiln. Each sculpture will be glazed with a transparent stoneware glaze, making it beautifully durable and waterproof.

Your sculpture will be ready to collect approximately 6 weeks after the workshop — we will be in touch with a collection date once it’s fired.

NB: We are happy to store your work for 6 months from the collection date, after which it will be donated to charity.

If a workshop you'd like to do is fully booked ring Box Office (01805 624624) to be added to the waiting list, you might be lucky! This also helps us ascertain the demand for particular workshops when programming.

PARKING

The closest long term car parks (and the cheapest) can be found at:

Fair View, Barnstaple EX31 1JR

Pilton Causeway, Barnstaple EX32 7AA

About Helen

I am a Welsh ceramicist and art teacher living in Cullompton, Devon. My hand-built ceramic vessels are strongly influenced by the coast and my time living, teaching and travelling in South East Asia. My forms are inspired by my first-hand experience of bulbous and curvaceous shapes found in many of the countries I travelled through. 

Each vessel is an exploration into the plasticity of the clay and the relationship between the maker and material. Beginning with a simple pinch pot, I build each piece over a few days so that there is time to reflect whilst the clay is drying and before adding the next coil. I then turn back the form by hand with a metal kidney, carving excess clay away, and using a mirror to help me achieve symmetry. I use stoneware clay, which I high bisque fire before applying very thin glaze. The surface is achieved by layering slip and barium glaze via pouring, dipping, spraying or brushing onto the vessel, layering the glaze. Each piece is a flux of blues and greens, reflecting the richness of the ocean.

I studied a BA in 3D Design at Exeter School of Art in 1996-1999 and a MA in Ceramics in Cardiff in 2003-2004. Having a desire to share my knowledge I completed a PGCE in Secondary Art and Design 2005-2006. I have taught in schools in Wales, England, Ghana, Thailand and Hungary for 16 years. I am now taking a leap of faith and focusing on sharing my skills via local community workshops and developing my studio practice; in my new life as an independent educator and studio potter.

I am a member of the Westcountry Potters Association and The Cullompton Arts House.

See here for all upcoming workshops with Helen McCormick.