Get stuck in

People engaging in a pottery class inside a studio, with a woman shaping clay on a potter's wheel, others observing, and a woman enjoying a hot drink.

An open access pottery studio and flexible workspace for craftspeople and creatives, right here in Fishponds, Bristol.

Our story

Fishponds Pottery was started by husband-and-wife team Finola and Max Thomas at the beginning of 2019, right here in Fishponds, Bristol. What began as a small studio has grown into a flexible workspace for a range of craftspeople and creatives with a ceramics focus — courses, workshops, an open access membership, and a proper kiln for hire when you need one.

We're tucked just off the main road, with our own outside space — so you can come and get messy without half of Bristol walking past the window.

Woman working on pottery, unloading a finished large top loading kiln, holding a white ceramic piece in her hand.

Find your craft

Taster sessions

Never touched clay before? Try a 2-hour taster from £45.

Throwing courses

Learn the wheel from scratch, at your own pace, in small groups.

Handbuilding

Hand, pinch, coil and slab — no wheel required.

Masterclasses

One-off sessions with visiting makers, for a specific skill or technique.

Membership

Got your own practice? Studio access, kiln space and a community to make alongside.

Hands shaping clay on a pottery wheel.

New to Pottery?

Not sure whether you want to try the wheel or sculpting by hand? We'll point you the right way.

Coming up next

Meet the team

A woman with brown hair wearing a blue shirt and black pants, smiling as she works with a pottery wheel in a ceramics studio.

The people behind the studio

Finola Thomas

Studio founder, teaching throwing since 2014.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, glasses, and a dark sweater, smiling and looking to the side, indoors near a window with urban background.

Lucy Turner

Head technician, teaches Beginners Plus and Intermediate throwing.

Give the gift of craft

Give the gift of craft

Course vouchers, or an open-value voucher to spend on whatever they fancy. Sent by email straight away, with a physical copy available to collect from the studio if you'd rather hand it over in person.

What people say

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