Weekly on Sundays

With additional days throughout the school holidays

10.15am - 11.15am, 11.45am - 12.45pm, 1.45pm - 2.45pm or 3.15 - 4.15pm

Every Sunday, join our Watts ceramicist for Clay Club! As a family, get hands-on and messy with clay to wedge, carve, mould, roll, sculpt and create clay masterpieces.

Themes will change fortnightly, inspired by Watts Gallery's rich heritage of pottery, current exhibitions and contemporary influence (as well as lots of fun and imagination). Take part in a one-off workshop or build Clay Club in as a regular part of your family's creative time together.

7 and 14 September - Make your own little cup
Create your own small cup for a warming hot chocolate as the autumn approaches and add a personal touch with simple decoration techniques.

21 September - Making spoons
Shape and design your own spoon from clay - practical, playful, or decorative, it’s up to you!

Please note that there will be no clay club on Sunday 28 September because we will be at Guildford Festival of the Arts! Join us for a drop-in pottery workshop and help us make 175 mini pots!
Find out more here

5 and 12 October - Coil pots: building with spirals
Learn the timeless art of coiling to build your own clay pot. Whether you choose a classic form or something sculptural, this technique invites exploration of shape, rhythm, and texture.

19 and 26 October - Mythical creatures
Inspired by William De Morgan's collection of mythical creatures, design your own fun creature. Will you make a phoenix, griffin, unicorn - or invent your own special creature?

2 and 9 November - Clay for Christmas!
Create a terracotta Christmas decoration, inspired by Mary Watts’ love for Celtic designs. Ready in time to collect for Christmas.

16 and 23 November - Festive cup
Create a small, festive cup perfect for a warming hot chocolate this winter. Personalize it with simple decoration techniques, adding a charming seasonal touch that you can enjoy throughout the holidays.

30 November and 7 December - Pattle Sisters’ Indian-inspired textile – create your own ceramic jigsaw
In this session, participants will create their own ceramic jigsaw inspired by the Indian-style clothing worn by the Pattle Sisters. Using clay and textured stamps, they’ll design and decorate their tiles with unique patterns, turning them into playful, decorative jigsaws to take home.

14 and 21 December - Birds in clay
At Watts Gallery, visitors will see and hear many birds - robins hopping along the paths, blackbirds in the trees, or in Mary’s work, pelicans, owls, and peacocks. Participants will choose a bird to create out of clay, exploring form and texture in a playful way.

Clay available
Your family will have the option to choose from air-dry clay (to take home with you on the day) or terracotta clay (that will need to be fired in our kiln). If you choose terracotta clay for firing, we will contact you when the works are ready for collection. This will take around 4 weeks, weather and other factors depending.