A collection of round gray pottery tiles with various pressed flowers and leaves arranged on top, including pink, yellow, and green plant specimens.
Logo for STUDIO by Rock Garden with a stylized branch and leaves design.

Workshops & Events at

At Studio by Rock Garden, our micro studio is small, intentionally so.

That’s what makes our sessions different. Each workshop is kept intimate, with space for just a handful of people, allowing every session to be taught with care, using quality materials, natural inspiration, and our own ethos of slow craft.

Alongside our pottery workshops, we also host guest artist sessions, creative events, and artisanal workshops led by makers, craftspeople, and musicians , making the studio a small but vibrant hub for creativity in York.

Workshops We Offer

  • People working on pottery projects at a pottery workshop, using clay and pottery tools.

    Intro to Handbuilding –

    Learn pinch, coil & slab techniques and make your own tableware or sculpture.

  • People working on pottery projects at a wooden table with clay, tools, and lit candles.

    Slab-Built Vase Workshop –

    Design and handbuild your own vase, using natural textures like foliage and rocks for decoration.

  • Hands of a person shaping a ceramic bowl on a pottery wheel in a workshop, with pottery tools and other ceramic pieces on the table.

    Trinket & Nibble Trays –

    Create small serving trays, jewellery holders, or trinket dishes.

  • Four handmade clay items: two small bowls with leaf imprints, one small cup, and one larger bowl or vessel.

    Cups & Mugs Workshop –

    Cups & Mugs Workshop – Handbuild your own ceramic mug or cup, shaped and sized to your liking.

  • A hand holding a chisel scraping a piece of a ceramic or concrete pipe on a wooden surface.

    Candle Holder Workshop –

    Design your own candle holder or tealight piece using handbuilding methods.

  • People working at pottery or ceramic workstations in a cozy, art-filled room with hanging pendant lights, framed landscape artworks, and open shelves displaying pottery and dishes.

    Wheel & Handbuilding Workshop –

    Combine the pottery wheel with handbuilding for a complete clay experience.

    please note: We are currently fully booked for Wheel & Handbuilding workshops until February 2026. New private bookings for this class will open after that date.

Book a Workshop.

How It Works-

Book a private workshop for you and your friends (minimum 4 people) or join one of our public sessions.

All classes take place in our micro studio — a small, creative space designed for hands-on learning, connection, and quality time making together.

See available sessions below.

Guest Artist Workshops & Events

Alongside our own pottery classes, we regularly host guest-led workshops and creative events at Studio by Rock Garden.

Each session is taught by a local maker, artist, or craftsperson whose work we admire — from brush making and printmaking to textiles, illustration, and more.

Workshops are small and hands-on, designed to give you the chance to learn directly from the maker in an intimate setting within our micro studio.

Upcoming Sessions:

A hand holding a small broom sweeping up tea leaves and dried rose petals on a white surface.

  • Saturday 8th November

    Learn the traditional craft of brush making and create your own functional, beautiful tools using natural materials.

    Find out more about Sophia and book her class.

  • November (Date TBC)

    Join printmaker Lara Aitken for a creative workshop combining lino printing and clay — explore pattern, texture, and surface design in new ways.

What they’re saying

  • Person shaping clay on a pottery wheel in a dimly lit pottery studio.

    Fab family Saturday night out! A group of us aged 17 to 56 spent the evening hand-building and trying out the wheel

    Google Review

  • A latte with latte art in a beige ceramic cup on a wooden table, with a potted plant and several smooth rocks nearby.

    Absolutely brilliant introductory course to ceramics. Highly recommend if you even have a slightest interest in pottery. Lovely team, great atmosphere and on top of it all, best coffee I've tasted.

    3 week course participant

  • People making pottery by shaping clay bowls on a table.

    We had a great afternoon, the team were very welcoming and gave clear instructions, so suitable for beginners! Great fun! We made two items each and then chose a glaze. They are ready for collection within about a month, but ours were ready in just over a week.

    Google review

  • Person in yellow gloves holding a small, unfinished ceramic vase in a workshop.

    To start the studio is such an incredible space, that makes you feel at home as soon as you walk in. We were able to have a go at throwing, and hand building. We learned all about glaze, the different types and ways to add colour to your pots I learned so much in both lessons and I am eager to see how my pots come out.

    Google review

  • People shaping clay on a pottery wheel in a pottery class with various tools, candles, and ceramic pieces on the table.

    Highly recommend! Me and my sisters and friend attended for a pottery throwing session and really enjoyed! Such a fun, relaxed atmosphere where Lydia let us get hands on with great tips and demonstrations.

    Google review

  • Person shaping clay on a pottery wheel in a dimly lit studio.

    I had such a great time doing a short pottery course at STUDIO by Rock Garden where I learned multiple hand building techniques and the wheel. Lydia is so passionate about her work and a kind and generous teacher. Highly recommend!!

    3 week course participant, Google Review.

Workshop & Event FAQ

  • Experience needed? None — all sessions are beginner-friendly.

  • What will I make? 2–4 handbuilt pieces, or a pot on the wheel (sometimes both).

  • Suitable for children? Mainly adults/teens. Family-friendly painting or private sessions on request.

  • What to wear? Comfy clothes you don’t mind getting clay on. Aprons provided. Short nails + tied-back hair recommended.

  • When will my work be ready? After firing + glazing: approx. 3–4 weeks. We’ll notify you for collection (postage available).

  • Private group sessions? Yes — birthdays, hens, team days, socials. Email us to book.

  • Other workshops? Yes — guest artists lead events in brush making, printmaking, music, and more.

Is the wheel hard to learn?
It can be tricky, but that’s part of the joy. Wobbles and collapses are part of the process — and the clay is always reclaimed and reused. Many people start with handbuilding first, but we’ll guide you through either way.

What is reclaimed clay?
Clay that’s been used, trimmed, collapsed, or dried, then rehydrated and kneaded back to life. At Rock Garden, we recycle every bit — keeping workshops sustainable and waste-free.

Can I book a private group session?
Yes. We host private workshops for birthdays, hen parties, team days, or creative socials. Bring your own snacks/drinks or request coffee bar service. Email us to check dates.

Do you run other workshops besides pottery?
Yes. Alongside clay, we host guest-led sessions in brush making, printmaking, and other creative crafts — even music events.