Take the wheel

Ever wondered what it would be like to get behind the ceramicist’s wheel?

At Sally Tully Ceramics Studio, Sally and Lee – who you may well recognise from their appearance on Channel 4’s The Great Pottery Throwdown – welcome visitors of all abilities to join them for fantastic ceramic experiences!

From their little piece of paradise – a spacious studio on Tregellast Barton Farm, the revered home of Roskillys ice cream – there are some beautiful walks, a small gallery and even a restaurant. It’s also only a five-minute drive from the beautiful harbour village of Coverack, or if you’re feeling fit, a 20-miute walk with fabulous views. 

Offering a comprehensive range of one, two and three-day courses, information on which can be found online, Lee and Sally are both throwers of pots in their own practice, with extensive experience of hand-building. Above everything else, they love to make their classes fun, with many attendees booking back in and returning to do more – testament to the experience they offer visitors.

The pair bring very different backgrounds to the studio; Lee was a full-time community nurse, before applying to go on The Great Pottery Throwdown, while Sally was a course lead tutor on a H.E. Access Art and Design course in Plymouth before filling out that fateful form. What they share is a love for the medium of clay, and a passion for channelling their creativity into it. Sally specialises in alternative firing techniques like Raku and, if at all possible, incorporates them into each two and three-day course, giving you a taste of these intriguing methods. Each course hosts a maximum of eight students, with many only having six, depending on the project. Lee and Sally ensure safety guidelines are followed to the letter, asking students to take (and providing them with) lateral flow tests before allowing them entry to the studio.

On arrival, and whilst you wait for the test results, you are welcomed with breakfast before cracking on with the day. Each course is fun-packed; as a student, you’ll be given the opportunity to work on your own project, with Lee and Sally on hand to help you. By the end of the course, you’ll have made a beautiful pot and learned several pottery techniques along the way, from construction methods to decorative styles. Your pieces will then be bisque fired and glazed, before being forwarded to you via First Class post.

Sally Tully Ceramics

www.sallytullyceramics.co.uk