About Pottery in practice

Weekly on Fridays
23, 30 May
6, 13, 20, 27 June
4, 11, 18 & 25 July
1, 8, 15, 22, 29 August
5 September

10.30am - 12.30pm

Join our resident Watts Potter Bahareh Khomeiry every Friday for a creative and inspiring hands-on pottery session, exploring a variety of exciting techniques and skills. Each theme runs for two weeks, but each session is standalone, so book for just one or as many as you wish and dive into the technique of the week!

Upcoming Sessions:

23 or 30 May – Nerikomi Technique

Explore the art of layering and patterning coloured clay for stunning visual effects.

6 or 13 June – Sgraffito Pots

Create intricate designs into the surface of your pottery using the sgraffito technique. You will be given pre-made pots hand thrown by Bahareh, to allow time to concentrate on your design and to develop your skills in sgraffito.

20 or 27 June – Make Your Own Mug

Craft a unique mug using slab and hand-building techniques.

4 or 11 July – Tile Painting

Taking inspiration from the intricate designs of William De Morgan tiles and Persian tiles, create your own designs. Hand-paint ready-made ceramic tiles with vibrant glazes and expressive patterns.

18 or 25 July – Carved Pottery

Learn to engrave beautiful patterns into pre-made pots. You will be given pre-made leather hard pots hand thrown by Bahareh, to allow time to concentrate on your design and to develop your skills in carving.

1 or 8 August – Egg Tray

Design and shape a stylish and practical tray for holding eggs.

15 or 22 August – Storage Jar

Create a storage jar with a lid for your kitchen essentials, working with a slab technique to create the perfect shape.

29 August or 5 September – Origami-Folded Bowls

Make a set of small and medium bowls inspired by origami folding techniques.

Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, these sessions are a great opportunity to experiment, create, and refine your skills in a welcoming and sociable studio setting.

Please note that firing can take up to four weeks; the team will contact you when your work is ready for collection.

About Bahareh Khomeiry

With a background in architecture, Bahareh Khomeiry’s journey in ceramics began out of fascination with the rich history of traditional tile-making in her home country, Iran. Her curiosity about how these tiles were made led her to pursue another BA in Ceramics, and since 2017, she has been a dedicated potter and tile artist.

Now based in the UK, Bahareh furthered her artistic ceramics practice by completing an MA in Ceramics at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA). Her work blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary techniques, offering a diverse approach to creating ceramics.

Bahareh explores the act of constructing and assembling elements, seeking balance in the process. Inspired by the way Persian domes are built—layer by layer, with each brick playing a vital role—she applies this method to ceramics. By combining hand-building and throwing techniques, she creates forms that are both structured and fluid.

Her recent series, Hair as Freedom: Cut Plaits, is a tribute to the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement that emerged in Iran in 2022. Witnessing the courage of Iranian women who removed their headscarves and cut their hair (plaits) in defiance of oppression deeply impacted her. This series captures their journey, from entrapment to liberation, and ultimately to unity. Cut Plaits represents these brave women fighting for their rights.

I really value being able to take part in these workshops at Watts. I love making in 3D and although very familiar with clay it isn't something I can do at home. I will continue to come to workshops and having mentioned it to others will be bringing interested friends.

- Workshop attendee