Dylan Bowen

Dynamic Slipware

21st - 24th June 2027 | 4 Day Workshop | £950

Learn and develop new approaches to making and decorating slipware with an emphasis on action and spontaneity. Using Dylan’s making and decorating techniques as a beginning, students will pursue new shapes and ideas and learn to embrace fresh directions.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Course in Detail

Clay will be sliced, carved, thrown and chopped. Slip will be poured trailed, brushed and splashed.

This four-day workshop will be loosely divided between making and decorating. Dylan will show his making techniques, hand building or on the wheel, that will be the starting point for the days work.

The first day will have an emphasis on creating surfaces to begin drying for the next days decorating. Dylan will then introduce slip decorating techniques, using trailers, brushes, sgraffitto etc. that will again be the starting point for individual expression.

Over the four days there will be time for the development of more individual and specific ways of working. Students will be able to take hold of Dylan’s techniques and approach, and begin to use them to develop their own ideas.

Throughout the workshop there will be a strong emphasis on embracing what happens in the moment, to being open to potential new directions during the making and decorating process. To recognise and embrace the potential for surprise when working in a loose and spontaneous way.

Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Please see our Student Contract for details.

USEFUL INFO

Course Breakdown

Throughout Dylan’s workshop there will be a strong improvisational element so the course will run in a fluid way and will be influenced by the students’ interests. The below gives a guide as to the day-to-day course breakdown:

Day 1: AM - Dylan will introduce his methods for making plates, both on and off the wheel. Students will be able to try the various making techniques while creating multiple surfaces for the following day’s slip decorating.

PM - Dylan will demonstrate how to throw the components for his bottle vessels. These can also be made off the wheel. Students will spend time making these with Dylan’s guidance

Day 2: AM - Dylan will demonstrate how to assemble the bottle shapes and students will construct their pieces. Dylan will then demonstrate his slip decorating techniques and the group will also explore more traditional methods of using slip, sgraffito, resist etc.  

PM - Students will decorate the surfaces and plates made on day one.

Day 3: AM - Dylan will demonstrate his methods for constructing tall forms. Students will assemble these with Dylan’s support and guidance. Students will also have the opportunity to create more surfaces for slip decoration using the techniques, and further pursuing ideas, from day two.

PM - Dylan will demonstrate decorating bottle shapes.

During the last two days students will be able to follow more individual lines of making. If ideas occur, we will see where they go.

Day 4: AM & PM - Dylan will show his methods for making carved cut sided forms. There will be a demonstration showing how to decorate the tall forms. Students will be able to finish decorating other plates/vessels.

There will also be time during the last two days for students to introduce their own ideas, based on what has already been covered.

This is an intensive making and decorating course and there will be no specific kiln firing during the week, however, we will encourage students to keep, and finish, a few carefully selected pieces. These will be fired following the workshop and ready for collection at a later date. Alternatively, students are welcome to take away their greenware (students must bring protective packaging when taking or collecting their pieces).

Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Details of our firing charges can be found in our Student Contract.

Book your space

Key information

  • DATE

    Monday 21st - Thursday 24th June 2027

  • DURATION

    4 day workshop

  • CLASS SIZE

    Maximum 10 students

  • LEVEL

    LEVEL

    Some previous experience of throwing and hand building would be useful.

  • CLAY TYPE

    Earthenware

  • COST

    £950 (Flexible payment plans)

GUEST POTTER BIO

About Dylan

Dylan Bowen makes slip decorated earthenware using both traditional and contemporary materials and techniques. Dylan works on a small but ever mutating range of shapes, large platters, bowls and more sculptural forms. The clay can be thrown, cut, carved or hand built then slips are poured, dipped or brushed on.

Marks are made quickly using trailers while the layers of slip are still wet. Dylan’s work has its roots in traditional slipware but with many contemporary influences, he aims to capture some of the dynamism and spontaneity of the making process in the finished work.

Dylan trained with Clive Bowen at Shebbear Pottery before studying at Camberwell School of Art. He has shared a studio in Oxfordshire with Jane Bowen for the past 20 years. Dylan is Fellow of the CPA and has exhibited widely in the UK and abroad.

WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR

Level

Confident Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Some experience in throwing and hand building would be helpful.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

The Schedule

  • Welcome Breakfast (from 9am - 10am). The session will start at 10am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.

  • On the second day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.

  • On the third day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.

  • On the final day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 4pm.

  • A two course lunch is provided everyday. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Ceramic Studio is located on a beautiful orchard in Brenchley, and there are lots of lovely surrounding towns and villages offering numerous places to stay.

    We are happy to arrange transits to and from your accommodation to the studio for the duration of your course. Please get in touch to arrange this. Please email the office team at info@theceramicstudio.life. To see examples of local accommodation, click here.

  • We do not offer a glazing service so cannot glaze your work for you. It may, however, be possible for you to return to the studio to glaze your work by booking a glazing session. Please speak to a member of staff to discuss this before booking. You are welcome to take greenware away with should you wish to. Alternatively you can take your bisque fired work away with you to glaze elsewhere.

  • We will usually bisque fire a small selection of pieces following a workshop. Each Guest Potter Workshop is different, however, so please refer to your individual Guest Potter Workshop page for the firing information for your course.

    The following firing charges will apply:

    £5 per 500g for glazed work

    £6 per 500g for glazed work with oxide

    £10 per 500g for any glazed work over 30cm in height or width

    £2 per 500g for work that is bisque fired but not glazed

  • Yes! During this Guest Potter Workshop, you’ll be treated to a Welcome Breakfast on the first day, plus morning and afternoon refreshments daily, including teas, coffees, sweet treats, and fresh fruit. A freshly cooked two-course lunch, prepared here in the studio, is also provided every day, with dietary requirements confirmed in advance.

  • If we haven’t quite answered your question please click here to view our guest potter FAQs page or email us info@theceramicstudio.life