Paint-a-Pot at Clay & Craft

No wheel, no mess, no experience needed

Pick up a brush. Paint something brilliant.

Choose a bisque-fired piece from our shelves, sit down with your colours and paint at your own pace. Sessions run Tuesday to Saturday — book as many seats as you need, one £5 table fee covers your whole group.

The experience

How it works

Browse our selection of bisque-fired pieces — mugs, bowls, animals, tiles, seasonal shapes and more. Choose your piece, settle in with your paints and brushes, and paint at whatever pace suits you. When you're done, we glaze and kiln-fire your piece and contact you when it's ready to collect — usually within one to two weeks.

How to join us

Ways to visit

Book a seat

Tue 13:00–16:00 · Wed & Fri 10:30–17:00 · Thu 13:00–17:00 · Sat 10:30–15:00

Sessions run Tuesday to Saturday with up to 6 seats per slot. One table fee of £5 covers your whole group — whether you're coming alone or filling all six seats. Book as many seats as you need; remaining seats stay open for others to join the same session.

See all sessions

Evening sessions

Date nights & family evenings

We run regular evening Paint-a-Pot sessions — perfect for date nights, family evenings out, or a relaxed social with friends. Evening slots must be booked in advance. Check our What's On page for upcoming dates.

See what's on

Special events

Guided & themed events

Throughout the year we run special guided Paint-a-Pot events — seasonal themes, technique-led sessions and collaborative projects. These are ticketed and must be booked in advance.

See what's on

We come to you

Mobile bisque events

We bring the Paint-a-Pot experience to you — for corporate team days, private celebrations, schools, care homes and domestic events. We arrive with bisque pieces, paints, brushes and everything needed. Get in touch to discuss your event.

Enquire about a mobile event

Book a place

Upcoming sessions

See all on What's On
Paint-a-Pot

WED 16 Sep · 10:3017:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

THU 17 Sep · 13:0017:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

FRI 18 Sep · 10:3017:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

SAT 19 Sep · 10:3015:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

TUE 22 Sep · 13:0016:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

WED 23 Sep · 10:3017:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

THU 24 Sep · 13:0017:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

FRI 25 Sep · 10:3017:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

SAT 26 Sep · 10:3015:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

TUE 29 Sep · 13:0016:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

WED 30 Sep · 10:3017:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

Paint-a-Pot

THU 1 Oct · 13:0017:00

Paint-a-Pot

All ages welcome

Drop in and paint one of our ready-to-glaze bisque pieces. Table fee £2.50 per person — bisqueware priced £10–£25 on the day. No booking required for walk-ins, or book a place to guarantee your spot.

£5per session

regardless of seats booked

6 of 6 seats left
Seats needed

remaining seats stay open for others

1

£5 covers your whole group · bisqueware £10–£25 on the day

What it costs

Pricing

Table fee — per session, up to 6 seats

One flat £5 table fee per session, regardless of how many seats you book (1–6). Book just the seats you need — remaining seats stay open for others. Covers all paints, brushes and materials. Deducted from your total when your group spends £30 or more on bisque pieces.

£5

Bisque pieces

Small tiles, decorations, tiny animals

£10

Small animals, mugs, cups

£15

Medium bowls, plant pots, larger animals

£18

Large mugs, medium jugs, platters

£20

Large bowls, statement pieces, large jugs

£25

Every piece is individually priced and clearly labelled on the shelf. The £5 session fee is deducted from your total when your group spends £30 or more on bisque pieces.

Collection notice

Collecting your finished piece

Once you've finished painting, we glaze and kiln-fire your piece. This takes around one to two weeks. We'll contact you when it's ready to collect from the studio.

Finished pieces must be collected within 28 days of bisque firing. Due to limited storage, work not collected within this period may be disposed of without further notice. Clay & Craft accepts no responsibility for uncollected pieces and no refunds will be issued.

What we stock

Our bisque range

We stock two types of bisque piece — manufactured bisque and our own handmade range. Manufactured bisque pieces are consistent in shape and surface, ideal for detailed painting and great for first-timers. Our handmade bisque pieces are made in the studio by our team — each one is unique, with the character and slight irregularity that comes from being made by hand. Both ranges are available on the shelf and priced individually.

Manufactured bisque

Consistent shapes, smooth surfaces, ideal for detailed work and beginners.

Clay & Craft handmade bisque

Made in our studio — each piece is one of a kind. Slightly irregular, full of character.

Technique guide

How to get the best from your glazes

We use three professional ceramic underglaze ranges at Clay & Craft — Bellissimo, Mayco Jungle Gem and Stroke & Coat. Each behaves differently and rewards a slightly different approach. Here's what you need to know to get brilliant results.

Bellissimo underglazes

Smooth, matte, highly pigmented. Excellent coverage and very consistent colour after firing.

01

Apply in thin, even coats. Two to three coats gives rich, opaque colour — one coat will appear lighter after firing.

02

Allow each coat to dry before applying the next. Wet-on-wet can cause lifting and uneven coverage.

03

Bellissimo blends beautifully — wet colours can be blended directly on the piece for soft gradients.

04

Colours fire true to the unfired shade. What you see is broadly what you get — ideal for beginners and detailed work alike.

05

Apply a clear glaze over the top before firing to bring out depth and add a gloss finish. Without a clear glaze, the surface will remain matte.

Mayco Jungle Gem crystal glazes

Translucent, sparkly, and full of movement. Jungle Gems contain glass crystals that melt and spread during firing, creating organic, jewel-like effects.

01

Apply thickly — Jungle Gems need a generous coat to develop their full crystal effect. Thin applications will look flat after firing.

02

These glazes move in the kiln. Avoid applying right to the base of a piece — leave at least 5mm unglazed at the bottom to prevent the glaze running onto the kiln shelf.

03

Layer Jungle Gems over a base coat of Bellissimo or Stroke & Coat for dramatic depth — the underglaze colour shows through the translucent crystal glaze.

04

Each firing produces slightly different results — the crystals spread unpredictably. Embrace the variation; no two pieces will look identical.

05

Jungle Gems work beautifully on textured or handmade bisque — the crystals pool in recesses and catch the light on raised surfaces.

Mayco Stroke & Coat

Versatile, vibrant and food-safe when fired. Stroke & Coat can be used as an underglaze or as a standalone glaze — it fires to a gloss finish without needing a clear coat.

01

One coat gives a semi-transparent, watercolour-like effect. Two to three coats gives full, opaque colour.

02

Stroke & Coat fires to a gloss finish on its own — no clear glaze needed, though adding one deepens the shine.

03

It's excellent for fine detail work — the consistency is smooth and it holds a brushstroke well. Use a fine brush for linework and lettering.

04

Stroke & Coat can be layered with Bellissimo — apply Stroke & Coat details over a Bellissimo base for crisp, colourful designs.

05

Colours are bright and reliable after firing. Reds, oranges and yellows fire particularly true — great for bold, graphic designs.

General tips for all glazes

01

Always start with a clean, dry bisque surface. Dust or grease will prevent the underglaze from adhering properly.

02

Use a damp sponge to wipe away mistakes before the underglaze dries — it lifts cleanly from bisque when still wet.

03

Thin your underglazes slightly with water if they feel too thick or drag on the brush. A smooth, flowing consistency gives the best results.

04

Don't mix brands in the same layer — different underglazes have different firing temperatures and can react unpredictably when combined.

05

Our team is always on hand to help with colour choices, techniques and layering ideas. Just ask.

Before you paint

Terms & conditions

By visiting Clay & Craft for a Paint-a-Pot session — whether as a walk-in, booked session, evening event or mobile event — you agree to the following terms.

Payment & table fee

A table fee of £5 per session is payable on booking, regardless of how many seats you reserve (1–6). This fee is deducted from your total when your group spends £30 or more on bisque pieces. The table fee is non-refundable if you choose not to purchase a bisque piece. Bisque pieces must be paid for before you begin painting.

Kiln firings & explosions

Clay is a natural material and kiln firing is an unpredictable process. On rare occasions, pieces may crack, break or explode in the kiln — this can happen even when work has been made correctly and is no fault of the painter. Clay & Craft cannot accept liability for pieces lost or damaged during firing. We take every reasonable precaution to ensure pieces are properly dried and fired, but we cannot guarantee the outcome of any individual piece. No refunds will be issued for pieces lost or damaged in the kiln.

Glazing outcomes & risks

We apply a clear glaze over your painted piece before firing. Colours, textures and finishes can vary and may differ from the unfired appearance. Glaze crawling, pinholing, colour variation and surface texture are natural characteristics of the ceramic process and do not constitute a fault. Certain underglaze colours — particularly reds, oranges and metallics — can shift in tone during firing. We cannot offer refunds on the basis of glaze appearance or finish.

Breakages

Bisque pieces are fragile. Clay & Craft cannot accept liability for pieces broken during the session, during handling after purchase, or during the firing process. If a piece breaks during your session before you have begun painting, we will replace it where stock allows. Once painting has begun, the piece is your responsibility. Please handle all work with care and follow the guidance of studio staff.

Collection of finished work — IMPORTANT

Finished pieces must be collected within 28 days of bisque firing. Due to severely limited storage space, work not collected within this period may be disposed of without further notice. We will contact you when your work is ready, but it is your responsibility to arrange collection promptly. Clay & Craft accepts no responsibility for uncollected pieces and no refunds will be issued for work that has been disposed of.

Children & supervision

Children under 5 must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult at all times. Clay & Craft cannot accept liability for accidents or injuries arising from unsupervised children. All underglazes used in the studio are non-toxic and water-based.

Studio conduct

Clay & Craft reserves the right to ask any guest to leave the studio if their behaviour poses a risk to themselves, other guests, or the studio environment. No refund will be given in such circumstances.

Acceptance of terms

By purchasing a bisque piece and beginning your session, you confirm that you have read and agree to these terms and conditions.

Before you visit

Good to know before you visit

01

Walk-ins welcome

Walk-ins are always welcome — just come in during a session and we'll do our best to get you set up. As a working pottery studio, we can't always guarantee a space on the day, so if you know when you'd like to visit, why not book your seats securely online? It only takes a minute and guarantees your spot.

Book a seat
02

All ages welcome

Paint-a-Pot is suitable for all ages — from toddlers to grandparents. Children under 5 should be accompanied by an adult. Aprons are available for all sizes.

03

Take your time

Most people spend 60 to 90 minutes painting. There's no time limit during walk-in sessions — settle in and enjoy it. Evening and special event sessions have a set duration.

04

Dozens of colours

We stock a wide range of ceramic underglazes. Our team will help you choose and mix colours, and show you techniques if you'd like a hand.

05

Non-toxic paints

All our underglazes are non-toxic and water-based — safe for children and adults alike. We provide aprons to protect clothing.

06

Mistakes are fine

Underglaze is very forgiving before firing. You can paint over mistakes, blend colours, or start again on a new piece. Our team is always happy to help.

Parties & groups

Paint-a-Pot makes a brilliant party.

Available as a standalone party format or combined with wheel throwing or handbuilding. Up to 18 guests. All ages welcome.

See party options

Questions

Frequently asked