CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Pottery Classes at Sofia Ceramics, South London
Think pottery is just spinning clay and hoping for the best? Well, kind of but it’s also way more fun than that. If you’ve ever dreamed of saying “I made this!” while serving snacks on your very own handmade plates (and maybe impressing your friends or your mum), you’re in the right place.
Our ceramic workshops in London are your backstage pass to the wonderfully messy, surprisingly zen, and wildly creative world of pottery. Whether you're a total beginner or you’ve dabbled before, we’ll help you shape your ideas into beautiful, functional art — with plenty of laughs (and maybe a clay-covered apron) along the way.
All materials, firing, drinks, and good times included. Just bring your A-game (and maybe an apron).
Ready to trade your Netflix binge for some clay-slinging fun? Come join us, because life’s too short for boring plates and clean hands.
Let’s shape some magic (and maybe a little chaos). See you in the studio!
Workshops with Max Adams
Join us in the studio for hands-on ceramic workshops led by Max Adams, one of our resident potters at Sofia Ceramics.
Max is an artist, maker and skilled production potter from the American Midwest. At Sofia Ceramics, he helps produce the handmade dinnerware we make for homes, chefs and restaurants, bringing together traditional studio pottery, technical precision and a deep love of clay.
Max trained at East Fork Pottery in Marshall, North Carolina, where he first worked under Alex Matisse and John Vigeland before becoming part of the team that helped East Fork grow from a small workshop into a major American tableware manufacturer. He later moved to London to complete an MFA at the Royal College of Art, where his research focused on British studio pottery, craft history and the relationship between making, drawing and ceramic form.
At Sofia Ceramics, Max leads workshops for beginners, developing potters and anyone curious about how handmade tableware is made. His teaching is practical, generous and rooted in real studio experience. Depending on the class, you might learn hand-building, wheel-throwing, jiggering, mould-making, trimming, surface decoration, or how a handmade plate is designed for both the hand and the table.
These workshops are a chance to slow down, work directly with clay and experience the materials, tools and processes behind the dinnerware made in our London studio. No experience is needed for our beginner sessions, and more experienced makers are welcome to join our technical workshops.
Roll up your sleeves, put on an apron and spend an evening experimenting with our favourite medium: ceramics.
TASTER - Hand-Building Workshops
A relaxed introduction to working with clay by hand. In this class, Max guides you through simple forming techniques such as pinching, coiling, slab-building and surface mark-making. You will learn how clay responds to pressure, touch and time, while creating your own handmade object to be fired in the studio.
Best for: beginners, creative evenings, small groups and anyone who wants to experience clay without using the wheel.
Make your OWN DINNERWARE - Jiggering and Tableware-Making Workshops
A closer look at the production methods behind handmade dinnerware. Max introduces jiggering, trimming and the process of making consistent plates and forms for the table. This workshop is especially connected to the work we do at Sofia Ceramics, where handmade plates need to be beautiful, durable and suitable for professional kitchens.
Best for: developing potters, design students, restaurant teams, makers interested in tableware, and anyone curious about how handmade dinnerware is produced at scale.
RUNNING IN THE DEEP - Ceramics, Drawing and British Studio Pottery
Max’s own practice combines pottery, drawing and a deep interest in the history of British studio ceramics. In this workshop, students are invited to look closely at ceramic form through drawing, observation and discussion. The class explores how shape, proportion, balance and surface can be understood not only by making, but also by looking carefully.
Best for: artists, designers, ceramicists, students and anyone interested in the history and visual language of pottery.
✨ Try Our Clay Taster Session
Perfect for first-timers, date nights, or a solo creative escape.
New here? Start with our Clay Taster Session — the perfect intro to pottery in London for beginners. In just 90 minutes, you'll learn the fundamentals of hand-building, working with clay to shape your own small dish, cup, or sculptural piece.
Expect muddy hands, big laughs, and a surprising sense of calm. No experience required — just curiosity and good vibes.
✨ Date Night Pottery & Private Sessions
Looking for a unique date idea in London that’s more exciting than dinner and a movie? Our Pottery Date Nights are fun, playful, and a little bit messy — the good kind. Sip, spin, and see who throws the best bowl.
Want to keep it low-key or go full-on “Ghost” moment? Book a private session for two or more — perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or creative catch-ups.
✨ Pottery Parties, Group Events & Team Building
Want to shake up your next birthday, hen or stag party, or office shindig? We’ve got you. Our South London pottery studio is a warm, creative space perfect for team-building events, creative group experiences, or just doing something different with your crew.
We provide everything you need for a memorable hands-on experience — fun, relaxing, and just the right amount of challenge to get everyone talking (and laughing).
Drop us a line and we’ll craft a bespoke event for your team, party, or celebration.
Under the Clay-Light: Explore Our Pottery Experiences in South London
Whether you're after a one-off creative escape, a thoughtful gift, a new hobby, or the ultimate date night idea our hands-on pottery workshops offer something for every mood, milestone, and maker. All held in our Stockwell studio, led by ceramicists who believe great pottery is messy, magical, and made to last.
So what does a Sofia Ceramics workshop actually look like? Glad you asked!
All classed are taught in our cosy Stockwell studio by working ceramicists who love what they do (and know how to teach it). These are small, intimate sessions inside a real working studio, the same one where we handcraft dinnerware for some of the UK’s top restaurants.
Want to make it extra special? We offer options for drinks, snacks, and even cake on request 🍰 — perfect for birthdays, date nights, or just treating yourself.
📍 Visit Us
Sofia Ceramics Studio
Stockwell, South London
Easy access from Clapham, Brixton & Vauxhall
Looking for "pottery classes near me"? You're already close.
🎁 Gifting a Class?
All our workshops are available as ceramic class gift cards the perfect present for birthdays, anniversaries, new homeowners, or that friend who’s watched every episode of The Great Pottery Throw Down. Choose from digital or physical gift options. Perhaps even pair a class with a Sofia Ceramics gift card for a thoughtful, memorable experience.
Gift idea: Handmade mug + workshop voucher = warmest gift ever.
🎁 Looking for a thoughtful experience gift?
We offer Pottery Class Gift Vouchers — perfect for birthdays, holidays, weddings, or just because. Give a little mud, magic, and memory-making.
📸 Don’t forget to tag us
Love seeing your work in the wild? So do we.
Share your creations and behind-the-scenes shots with @sofiaceramics — we might just feature your piece next.
📩 Email us at info@sofiaceramics.co.uk to plan your next pottery party, corporate workshop, or private class.
See Max in Action!
