Bird House Pottery Workshop

Name: Bird House Pottery Workshop
Start: 2026-03-14T10:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-03-14T16:00:00+00:00
Location: St Anne's Arts & Community Centre

Schedule

Sat Mar 14 2026 at 10:00 am to 04:00 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

St Anne's Arts & Community Centre | Barnstaple, EN

Tutor: Helen McCormick
This workshop is designed to be a relaxed, friendly space where you can meet new people and have the opportunity to create, learn and have fun.
In the morning, you will learn how to design and make your own bird house using traditional slab building techniques.
In the afternoon, you will learn how to apply coloured decorating slips to add pattern and decoration to your beautiful house.
All materials and equipment will be provided.
Tea and Coffee will be available throughout the day.
The only thing you need to bring is a packed lunch and an apron or wear old clothes and trim any long nails.
After the workshop, Helen will carefully take your bird house home and fire them in my kiln. Your work will need to be glazed so that they are weather proof. Your beautiful creations will be ready for collection 6 weeks after the workshop finishes from St Anne's. We will let you know the time and date.
All ages welcome (14 yrs & under must be accompanied by an adult).
£55.00 +£15 for materials and firing payable to the tutor on the day.
Book online.
If a workshop you'd like to do is fully booked ring Box Office (01805 624624) to be added to the waiting list, you might be lucky! This also helps us ascertain the demand for particular workshops when programming.
PARKING
The closest long term car parks (and the cheapest) can be found at:
Fair View, Barnstaple EX31 1JR
Pilton Causeway, Barnstaple EX32 7AA
Seven Brethren Bank (beyond the Leisure Centre)
About Helen
I am a Welsh ceramicist and art teacher living in Cullompton, Devon. My hand-built ceramic vessels are strongly influenced by the coast and my time living, teaching and travelling in South East Asia. My forms are inspired by my first-hand experience of bulbous and curvaceous shapes found in many of the countries I travelled through.
Each vessel is an exploration into the plasticity of the clay and the relationship between the maker and material. Beginning with a simple pinch pot, I build each piece over a few days so that there is time to reflect whilst the clay is drying and before adding the next coil. I then turn back the form by hand with a metal kidney, carving excess clay away, and using a mirror to help me achieve symmetry. I use stoneware clay, which I high bisque fire before applying very thin glaze. The surface is achieved by layering slip and barium glaze via pouring, dipping, spraying or brushing onto the vessel, layering the glaze. Each piece is a flux of blues and greens, reflecting the richness of the ocean.
I studied a BA in 3D Design at Exeter School of Art in 1996-1999 and a MA in Ceramics in Cardiff in 2003-2004. Having a desire to share my knowledge I completed a PGCE in Secondary Art and Design 2005-2006. I have taught in schools in Wales, England, Ghana, Thailand and Hungary for 16 years. I am now taking a leap of faith and focusing on sharing my skills via local community workshops and developing my studio practice; in my new life as an independent educator and studio potter.
I am a member of the Westcountry Potters Association and The Cullompton Arts House.
Feedback from previous pottery workshops:
Excellent day. The tutor walked us through the process really well, keeping everyone on time and making sure all were keeping up. The facilities were great too. Thank you.
Excellent day Helen is amazing teacher ,would highly recommend going to her classes.
Fabulous. Great teaching by Helen. Stage by stage and we were all amazed at our results. Great venue too, thank you Sharon for looking after us all.