Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses reviews

Jacqui Shaw reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"Today I had the pleasure of learning to throw a pot with Matthew. What an absolute gentleman & fantastic teacher. I was very nervous about how the day would go as I have never done anything like this before. He talked me through every step and made it so easy for me to follow. I am hooked it's the most enjoyable course and I can highly recommend to anyone who is curious to have a go. It's fabulous value for money as you get to have your pots painted & fired. I managed to make a few items & can't wait to see them glazed. I will definitely be requesting another voucher from santa... Thank you for a fabulous day"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Jacqui, it was an absolute pleasure to teach you and see you progress throughout the day. You made amazing progress in one day and the results speak for themselves. Best wishes and I can’t wait to see your glazed pots. Mat"

Debr reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"My teenage daughter and I as complete, beginners, spent a day with Matthew at his studio earlier this week. Such a memorable experience for all the right reasons. Our expectations were exceeded. Within a few hours we were making cylinders and bowls. Matthew has a warm, welcoming, genuine personality and was fabulously patient with us throughout. From never having thrown clay to ending the day with a range of beautiful pottery is testimony to his teaching skills and methodology. Music selection whilst we worked was spot on also!"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Debra, thank you for the lovely review. It was great to see you both achieve so much in just one day. I had a fantastic day teaching both of you and seeing you both progress throughout the day. Best wishes Mathew"

Claire reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"My Mom and I had the most wonderful day at Matt's class. We'd never thrown clay before, but thanks to Matt's expertise, we'd thrown our first bowl within half an hour, and came away with five pieces (3 bowls, 2 jugs) each! From Matt & Rachel's warm hospitality, to Matt's patient tutorage and the mesmerizing experience of working on the wheel, the whole day was faultless. I'd highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to scratch a creative itch, try a new skill, or just wants to have fun doing something a bit different!"

Catherine Lane reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"I booked this course for mum and I for mums birthday. Both of us were total novices but had a truly fabulous and fun day which resulted in a great selection of pots. Thank you Matthew X"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Catherine, It was great to have you both on the course and what you both achieved without any prior experience was amazing. I am firing your pots this week so they will be ready to collect at the weekend. Best wishes Mathew"

Oonagh reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"Had another wonderful day with Matt What a fab teacher, you can achieve more than you think you can. Excellent course well worth every penny, can’t wait for next time."

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Oonagh, Thank you for taking time to leave a review and I had another great day teaching you and your daughter. The beautiful pots that you both created will be ready to collect this weekend. Best wishes and I look forward to having you back on the course to extend your skills further, Rachel says hello too. Mathew"

Phoebe reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"We had a fabulous day trying out pottery for the first time for Richard’s 30th! It was just what we wanted, private tuition so we could really learn the basics and a full day so we could try out making lots of things, including a chalice!! Looking forward to collecting our finished products :). Thank you so much to Mathew for a great day x"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Phoebe and Richard, I had a great day teaching both of you and it was evident how you both developed your skills throughout the day. Your pots look fantastic and are drying ready to fire and I will be in touch as soon as they are ready to collect. If you decide to buy a wheel and need any advice please get in touch. If you want to develop your skills further in the future, it would be a pleasure to have you both back on the course. Best wishes Mathew"

Mark Hayward reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"What a fantastic day. Simply amazing fun, learnt loads and laughed a lot. Have already told loads of people to go on the course. It was so much fun that I would actually get a potters wheel at home if we had space!"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Mark, It was great to have you both on the course and the resulting forms that you both produced were fantastic. If you ever fancy developing your skills further in the future, it would be great to have you both back on the course. You need to get that wheel so you can get practicing. Best wishes Mathew"

Liz & Keith Charlton reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"I have wanted to learn to throw pots for a long time and for various reasons life had always got in the way. I decided that it was now or never. I read several reviews and chose to book with Matthew. To my surprise, my husband agreed to join me and so with excitement on my part and no expectation on my husbands we headed to Stoke. From the moment we were greeted at the door by Matthew the day exceeded both of our expectations, Matthew was welcoming, relaxed and positive, and we felt that whatever the day brought it would be enjoyable and fun. The day turned out to be better than that, we learned a lot, we made much more than we expected, we asked many, many questions that were answered and discussed without us being made to feel stupid for asking, and we had so much fun. To top it all, my husband thoroughly enjoyed it and wants to buy a potters wheel! A great day, made totally enjoyable by Matthew and his family and a foundation for further adventures. Thanks"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Liz and Keith, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. I had a fantastic day teaching you both and sharing my love of clay and the skill of throwing on the wheel. You both achieved so much in one day and it was lovely that you were both enthusiastic and were keen to learn more. It is always exciting when people complete the course and are so inspired they want to buy a wheel to continue learning. If you need any advice on a wheel just let me know. If you need to further your skills in the future it would be lovely to have you both back and extend you knowledge on the wheel. Best wishes Mathew"

Oonagh Keen reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"I had a wonderful experience today! I have been looking for somewhere to throw a pot for a while and I felt extremely at ease and encouraged to achieve things I never thought I could. Matt’s encouraging and calm approach gave me the confidence to realise what you can achieve in the right environment. Will definitely be returning!"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Oonagh, It was a pleasure to have you on the course today and see you achieve with your natural affinity with the clay. It would be great to have you back on the course and develop your skills further. Best wishes Mathew"

Barbara Forbes reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"I did a 3 day course with Mathew - always wanted to try throwing and wanted a really immersive, creative experience. Having no previous experience I was nervous but needn't have been. Mathew is encouraging, enthusiastic and welcoming - and an excellent teacher. He is gifted at knowing how much to say and when to say it. I really enjoyed the throwing and the painting too. Thanks to his excellent guidance, it all went far better than I could have imagined. I have made 19 pieces, including jugs, plates, a nested set of bowls and even a galleried pot and lid. I have just collected the pots after firing .Overwhelmed doesn't even come close. I will try and put them on Instagram. Totally delighted. Am so pleased to have had this experience. Mathew and Rachel are lovely, friendly people and I highly recommend his course - he is as the saying goes " a safe pair of hands" which I guess is just what you need in a potter! I hope to come back again in the future for a refresher course. Thanks, Barbara."

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Barbara, It was lovely to meet you for the workshop and see you produce a fantastic range of pots. It really did give you the opportunity to use many skills, including making lidded vessels. The techniques that you acquired over the three days took you from a beginner and really built your confidence on the wheel. . It always amazes me just how much progress can be made in such a short space of time. It would be great to have you back on the course in the future and progress your skills further. Best wishes Mathew"

Ian Legge reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"I booked a day course with Mathew for my wife's 40th birthday so she could try her hand at throwing on the wheel. I had used a wheel before and wanted to brush up and get some new skills. Mathew is an accomplished potter and a natural, skilled teacher. In next to no time he had my wife producing some bowls and pots anyone would be proud of. At the same time he was able to cater to my slightly more experienced needs, expanding my knowledge and developing my skills. We both had a truly terrific day, enjoying not only the pottery work but also the hospitality and conversation of Mathew and his family. It was lovely to meet such open minded, kind-hearted and generous people. I will certainly be back for more.....my wife may even insist on coming too with her new found ability! (Ian and Monika)"

Serena James reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"I’d booked a one day course as a birthday present for my partner (something we could do together) based on all the positive and amazing reviews - we were not disappointed. Despite our late arrival (multiple train issues), we were still able to produce 6 practical and usable dishes each, which I think is a true testament to Matthew’s teaching skills. This is a fantastic course to do as you really learn to appreciate the level of skill required to master a truly beautiful craft. We thoroughly enjoyed our time on the course and can’t wait to receive and use our handcrafted dishes. I highly recommend this course with Matthew; he’s a fantastic teacher and I will definitely book again for another session."

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Serena and Sandro, It was a pleasure to teach both of you and see you both progress throughout the day. Your pots are now drying ready to be fired and glazed. It would be a pleasure to have you both back on the course again in the future. Best wishes Mathew"

Jane Tillier reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"Although I love ceramics (especially stoneware), I had never worked on a wheel before. I had such a great day! Mathew was a patient and encouraging teacher. I learnt a great deal in 6 hours and was hugely pleased with what I managed to produce. Thanks, Mathew! An inspiring, challenging and relaxing 60th birthday treat!"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Jane, It was a lovely to meet you and an enjoyable day teaching, seeing your skills develop on the wheel and chatting about our similar interests. I look forward to you seeing your finished glazed work. Best wishes Mathew"

Suzanne Wilson reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"This is something I had always wanted to have a go at and had no experience whatsoever. From the start Matthew put me at ease, explained everything really clear and guided me throughout, he showed me lots of techniques and was very supportive and encouraging. The day went by so quickly and I have six amazing products to show for it which I actually made on a potters wheel! I cant wait to come back, I would encourage anyone who is thinking about having a go to book with Matt, you wont be disappointed, this course is truly brilliant! X"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Suzanne, Thank you for the lovely review, it was great to see your skills develop throughout the day and you produced some lovely forms on the wheel. The pots will be fired next week and I will be in touch about collection. Best wishes Mathew"

Janice Parker reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"Can't praise Matthew enough for the wonderful day me and my husband spent in his studio yesterday. I had done some throwing years ago but nothing spectacular and Phil is a complete novice. Matthew was very patient and catered very well to our different needs. Phil was so excited to actually produce a bowl on his first attempt. We both came away having made several bowls and jugs each. Matthew and his family were very welcoming and chatty throughout the day. Very relaxed atmosphere and even the sun was out. I would recommend this workshop to anyone, beginner or more advanced potter as Matthew has excellent skills as a teacher which he imparts cheerfully and with great generosity. Hope to go again in the not too distant future."

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Janice and Phil, I had a great day teaching both of you and seeing you develop throughout the day. It was great to see you throwing with 4 lb plus balls of clay and producing some really lovely forms. I hope to see you again soon. Best wishes Mathew"

Ann Matthews reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"This is an excellent course, I had no experience at all of pot throwing, and as a complete novice did not expect to make as many things as I did: 9 items in all, not counting the ones that didn't work. Matthew is an excellent teacher with plenty of patience. It is a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I highly recommend the course."

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"HI Ann, Thank you for the great review, I had an excellent time teaching you and watching your skills develop throughout the day.It was great to see the look on your face when we put all the pots together and you realised just how many you had made. Best wishes Mathew"

Isabel Markham reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"I received a voucher for this course for my 20th birthday because I have a fascination for pottery but no experience at all. It's one of the best presents I've ever had; the day was so wonderful, and on top of learning so much about the skills and techniques in throwing a pot, I got to take home 4 bowls and 3 jugs with me which can actually be used! Matthew is really lovely and a great teacher. I definitely recommend this course and really wan to go back myself!"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Isabel, A fantastic achievement on the wheel with a lovely range of forms produced. Your pots will be fired and glazed over the next few weeks, They can then be collected or posted out as discussed. Best wishes Mathew"

Richard Adams reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"I wanted a one day throwing lesson for my friend Rina who was visiting from Holland, I could not have made a better choice, Mathew was just perfect. Rina wrote her review (sic) “It was a wonderful gift. A few hours on Saturday, Mathew taught me basic techniques for working with pot turning + same relevant tools. At the end of the day I was able to make my own idea for a clay jug on the disc. It was a perfect day.” Thanks from both of us."

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Thank you Richard,it was lovely to meet you both. It was great to see Rina achieve her goals during the day and go away with the confidence to use her new skills. Best wishes Mathew"

Rosie Green reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"I bought a voucher for my dad so he could throw a pot (I had to keep him company of course!) we had such a great time we booked a second trip to decorate our many pieces, and managed to throw another two large pieces as well! Really lovely space to work in and lovely guy to teach us! Mathew is really easy going and patient, but also makes sure you get the most out of the time you have with him and shows you a range of techniques. So happy with our creations, can't wait to see them fired! 100% recommended :)"

Lindsay West reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"Matthew gave us an excellent overview of how to use the potters wheel with one to one instruction, and we totally enjoyed ourselves! It was a lovely creative day that flew by and we learned all kinds of new skills. Thanks Matthew for your careful instruction- we can’t wait to see the fired results!"

Derek and Hazel reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"What a great day we had! Mat and his wife were very welcoming. He outlined the day over a cup of coffee and then took us to his impressive studio at the bottom of his garden. We began hesitantly but quickly gained confidence from his enthusiastic, expert tuition. He has a very easygoing teaching style, is relaxed and chatty. With his encouragement we managed to complete several pieces ranging from a simple bowl, through cream jugs to attempting a chalice by the end of a thoroughly enjoyable and productive day. From walking in with a degree of apprehension, we walked out having completed so many pieces all thanks to Mat!"

LESLEY WILLS reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"Yet another excellent day at the wheel with Mathew; he constantly encourages me in developing new and exciting skills. Who would have imagined that I could create storage jars, plus lids; even the ones that collapsed!!! Thank You Mathew"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Lesley, Thank you for the taking the time to leave a review. It is great to see your skills continually develop on the wheel and just how much you have achieved over the past year. I look forward to seeing you again in July. Best wishes Mat"

Sarah B reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"What a brilliant day! As a complete novice to pot throwing, I had no idea what to expect, but with Mathew's excellent teaching I made a lot more pots then I had envisaged! I cannot recommend the course highly enough."

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Sarah, Thank you for your review, you clearly have a natural ability with the clay. Your pots are now dry and will be fired throughout this week, ready to collect later next week. Best wishes Mathew"

Wendy Arnold reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"I booked the course as a birthday present for my husband, Barry, and I went with him to observe. What a wonderful day! When we arrived we were greeted by Mathew and Rachel who are a lovely, welcoming couple. The course was wonderful. Mathew is an exceptional instructor and communicator. With Mathew's easy instruction and patience Barry was soon comfortable with the equipment and clay and within a short while was looking like a proper potter himself! He came away from the day with a feeling of great accomplishment having made three jugs and several dishes - all proudly displayed in our kitchen for family and friends to admire. If you've always had a desire to try a "bit of pot-throwing" go nowhere else. Mathew is a master craftsman and a brilliant tutor - you could do no better. Thank you Mathew for your instruction, enthusiasm and "joie de vie" - you have fulfilled a life-long ambition in the most perfect way."

Virginie Eckersley reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"Going on the course with my three daughters, I could not have imagine that learning a new skill would be such fun. As a complete novice with pottery and clay I didn't think that I could achieve anything worth taking home. But with Mat and Rachel's teaching skills, their patience, their enthusiasm and good humour we all stretched ourselves to reach creativity levels we didn't know we had. Thus resulting in producing some unusual and rather good works from the four of us. Mat and Rachel welcomed us to their house and studio, they both have the ability to make strangers very comfortable.... the coffee and cakes were rather good too!!! I am looking forward to meeting again when collecting our precious collection. Thank you again. Virginie"

Dimbleby Ceramics - Studio Pottery Courses responded:

"Hi Virginie, Thank for the lovely review, myself and Rachel had a lovely weekend teaching you and your family various creative clay techniques. It was great to see how creative you all are, including the thought that went into the handbuilding workshop with detailed patterns. The throwing workshop was great fun on the potter's wheel, with a range of beautiful forms being created. All the pots are now in the kiln firing and will be glazed next week ready to be posted out. We would love to have you back for another creative workshop in the future. Best wishes Mathew & Rachel"