Stuart is known for his ‘weightless’ style of throwing. Over the past 20+ years Stuart has honed his techniques to create objects of strength and beauty with great accuracy. You will be shown techniques to ‘stretch’ the clay thin, a method Stuart uses in his practise and has developed through production and teaching at the highest levels. The session will focus on bowls, upright vessels and plates, Stuart will teach weight distribution in detail and explain the principles of throwing almost gravity defying objects. This method of throwing produces fine, refined pieces and is also an extremely economical method of production, almost all of the clay will be used in the throwing; leaving little to trim and speeding up your overall time at the wheel. If you want to move away from heavy pots and develop the skills to make beautifully delicate pieces then this is the course for you! There will be a maximum of 10 people in this class and Stuart will also have an experienced assistant to support people taking part.
Trimming:
Stuart will show you fast and accurate methods of trimming. He will start by explaining the correct use of specific tools and showing you how to make your very own razor sharp trimming tools for virtually no cost. He will then demonstrate how he trims his works, where to leave weight for practical purposes and where to remove it. He will end by showing how to finish a pot, marrying inside and out and finding the right curves between wall and foot. You’ll be able to try these methods on a pre thrown bowl on the day.
You will be given the opportunity to return to the studio in the week following the class to finish trimming (by booking onto a ‘drop-in session’) and we can fire work that you have made for a small cost.
Stuart Carey – Ceramic Artist & Educator
Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, Stuart Carey is a London-based ceramicist, educator, and advocate for the craft. His passion for ceramics began at 14, leading him to study at the Glasgow School of Art and the Royal College of Art under influential mentors. Stuart gained international recognition with his award-winning tableware, working with clients like Conran, John Lewis, and Calvin Klein. He later co-founded The Kiln Rooms, pioneering open-access ceramics studios in the UK. A senior consultant on The Great Pottery Throw Down, lecturer at Central Saint Martins, and author of From Clay to Kiln, he continues to shape the ceramics industry.
