rachel petersFinding Form:
Sculptural Coiling
10th - 12th November 2027 | 3 Day Workshop | £600
Explore sculptural form through coiling and hand-building with Rachel Peters. Create abstract and figurative sculptures, with a focus on form, construction, refinement and responding intuitively to the clay.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWThe Course in Detail
Over three days, Rachel will share the hand building processes she uses to create her abstract and figurative sculptures, with a particular focus on coiling, developing form and refinement.
Participants will develop an individual sculptural piece from their own ideas, learning how to translate an initial concept into three-dimensional form. Rachel will demonstrate her approach to building with coils, incorporating slabs where appropriate, creating and joining larger forms, controlling and altering shape, and refining the finished surface.
Alongside these techniques, there will be an emphasis on preparation and practical problem-solving, considering scale, structure and joining, while also learning to respond intuitively to the clay and allow a form to shift and develop during the making process.
Guidance and demonstrations will be given throughout the three days, with plenty of individual attention and discussion. The aim is not to reproduce Rachel's work, but to give each participant the skills and confidence to develop their own sculptural language.
Participants will leave with a finished sculptural piece and, just as importantly, new techniques, ideas and approaches that they can continue exploring in their own practice.
Please note, there will be no specific kiln firing during the workshop, however, students’ pieces will be fired and be ready for collection a few weeks later. 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. Please see our Student Contract for details.
USEFUL INFOCourse Breakdown
Day 1: Ideas and Building
Rachel will begin with an introduction to her practice and the hand-building processes she uses to create her sculptures. Participants will discuss their individual ideas and consider scale, form, structure and the most appropriate approach to construction.
Rachel will demonstrate her coiling techniques, preparation and methods for beginning and building a sculptural form. Participants will then begin work on their own pieces, with individual guidance throughout the day.
Day 2: Developing Form
The second day will focus on developing and building the sculpture. Rachel will demonstrate techniques for joining and adding to forms, creating curves and openings, and controlling or altering the direction of a piece as it develops.
There will be an emphasis on proportion, balance and structure, as well as understanding when the clay is at the right stage to join or manipulate. Participants will be encouraged to respond to their work as it develops, allowing the form to evolve rather than feeling restricted by their original idea.
Day 3: Refining and Resolving
The final day will begin with completing construction where necessary before moving on to refinement. Rachel will demonstrate the tools and techniques she uses to refine her own sculptures, including how she approaches surfaces, edges, curves and transitions between forms.
There will also be discussion around knowing when a sculpture feels resolved and what to avoid during the refinement stage.
The course will finish by looking at the completed pieces together, discussing what has worked, any challenges encountered and how participants might approach things differently in future work.
This is an intensive making and refining course and there will be no specific kiln firing during the week, however, students’ pieces will be fired following the workshop and ready for collection a few weeks later. 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.
Key information
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DATE
Wednesday 10th - Friday 12th November 2027
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DURATION
3 day workshop
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CLASS SIZE
Maximum 10 students
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LEVEL
Some previous experience of hand building would be useful.
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CLAY TYPE
Earthenware
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COST
£600 (Flexible payment plans)
GUEST POTTER BIOAbout Rachel
Rachel Peters is a ceramic sculptor based on the Wirral, creating hand-built abstract and figurative sculptures in grogged stoneware. After a career in social work and time living in South Africa, she found her way back to creativity through clay. What began as curiosity developed into a sculptural practice exploring presence, resilience and the search for wholeness.
Working primarily through coiling, Rachel is drawn to curves, soft edges and tactile surfaces, with an emphasis on form and texture rather than decoration. Her sculptures are left unglazed, preserving the natural texture and material honesty of the clay.
Rachel exhibits nationally through galleries and specialist ceramics fairs. She is a Selected Member of the Craft Potters Association and Design Nation.
WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR
Level
Confident Beginners / Intermediate / Advanced
This course is suitable for confident beginners and those with previous experience in using clay and hand building, and who would like to develop their approach to sculptural ceramics.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECTThe Schedule
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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.
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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.
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On the third day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 4pm.
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A two course lunch is provided everyday. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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If we haven’t quite answered your question please click here to view our guest potter FAQs page or email us info@theceramicstudio.life