Pottery Throwing
Available Dates
Dates 2026
All of our craft or activity holidays run for 5-nights from Sunday to Friday and start from £985 per person.
The above is based on single occupancy. A £100 per person discount is applied for art, craft and activity guests on a shared occupancy basis.
DATES 2027
All of our craft or activity holidays run for 5-nights from Sunday to Friday and start from £985 per person.
The above is based on single occupancy. A £100 per person discount is applied for art, craft and activity guests on a shared occupancy basis.
About The Course
Example Program:
Day 1 Monday: Foundations & First Cylinders
Day one will focus on the basics of wheel-throwing. The session will start with a demonstration showing how clay is thrown on a wheel and explaining the reasons for each movement. Students will then learn how to wedge the clay, cone up and down, centre the clay, open and pull a simple cylinder.
We will wrap up the day with troubleshooting and a group discussion on what felt difficult.
Day 2 Tuesday: Improving Form & Bowls
Todays demonstration will show how to turn cylinders into simple bowls, and highlight the challenges that this has. After warming up with a refresher session recapping on yesterdays learning, students will learn to transition their cylinders into simple bowls. Once this has been achieved, they can proceed to compressing and shaping the rims of their bowls.
The afternoon will introduce participants to brush glazing. They will learn how different glazes interact and the effects that can be produced before being provided with a range of bisque ware to glaze.
This day will end with students reviewing their pieces and gaining feedback from the instructor.
Day 3 Wednesday: Trimming & Refinement
Yesterdays glaze pots will be loaded into the kiln first thing this morning.
Following this, students will be taught how to refine and trim their pots. They will learn about the consistency the pots need to be to be trimmed, how to centre a piece on the wheel, trimming foot rings and adding simple decoration with surface texture and carving.
We will end the day with a discussion common trimming mistakes and thoughts on challenges.
Day 4 Thursday: Decoration, Carving & Wrap-Up
The final day will focus on decorative techniques such as underglaze, coloured slip, and wax resist.
Students will be shown how these materials can be used to add intricate designs on ceramics, before trying a few techniques on their own pieces, and finishing any decorative carving from the day before.
The day will end with a the group critiquing their work, and what they have gained from the course.
We will discuss the firing process and what happens next with their ceramics. I will open the Kiln and remove the pieces during the evening.
Day 5 Friday: Departure
On the departure day, each participants' ceramics will be packed and ready for them to collect immediately after breakfast.
Post Course:
After the course, the pots will be left to dry for three days, depending on the weather, before being bisque fired (36 hrs from fill to empty). The fired pots will then be dip glazed in the students chosen colour, before their final firing (36 hrs). The pots will then be posted to the participants.
Course Inclusions And Coverage
This course is an all-in-one package which includes the following:
Tuition
Booking for this course includes 4 days of specialist tuition.
Equipment
All specialist equipment will be supplied but there will be a few essential items that you will need to bring. Please see our terms and detailed information section below.
Food & Accommodation
Full board catering and 5-nights accommodation are included when you book.
Transfers
Complimentary transfers are included when you book - subject to certain conditions.*
* Transfers from Stirling train station are available on the arrival and departure days (pick-up from the station at 15:30, departs Gartmore House at 9:00). Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports are available at an additional cost.
Picture Gallery
tERMS & DETAILED INFORMATION
If you’re coming on one of our holidays and would like to bring a friend, partner, or member of your family, then we have you (and them!) covered. Accompanying guests will enjoy full board catering and shared accommodation with you. We also have a full programme of day trips and activities on offer for them. Please add them and day trips at the checkout stage.
How to book
To book online, please click on your preferred date above.
For any questions or to book direct please call 01877 382 991 or email mail@gartmorehouse.com
If you have any questions, you may like to take a look at our FAQs but if you have any further queries, please contact our team directly.
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF BOOKING
To confirm your holiday:
A non-refundable 25% deposit is required to secure your booking.
Payment of your holiday:
The balance of your payment must be received no later than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement of your holiday. In the case of non-payment, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any cancellation fees will apply.
If you cancel your booking:
All deposits are non-refundable. Should you need to cancel your booking up to 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, we will refund any monies paid, less your deposit. If you cancel less than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, no refund will be given.
We do advise you to take out holiday insurance for this reason.
Your Course Tutor: Elaine Hill
Elaine Hill is the ceramic artist and founder of Allanwater Pottery, a welcoming community pottery in Dunblane where creativity, craftsmanship, and learning come together. Alongside her own studio practice, Elaine is passionate about sharing the art of ceramics, providing a supportive environment where people of all abilities can explore clay and develop their creative confidence.
Working primarily with stoneware clay, Elaine creates contemporary functional ceramics that combine refined craftsmanship with a deep appreciation for the natural world. Each piece begins on the potter's wheel, where elegant, balanced forms are carefully thrown before many are enhanced with hand-carved surface decoration. Her work is designed to be both beautiful and enduring, celebrating the harmony between function and artistry.
Inspired by the subtle textures, muted colours, and changing seasons of the Scottish landscape, Elaine's ceramics reflect a quiet, understated aesthetic. Through the thoughtful use of glazes, slips, and oxides, she creates tactile surfaces that invite touch and reveal intricate patterns, giving each piece a unique identity while remaining practical for everyday use.
Alongside her functional work, Elaine explores more expressive and abstract ceramics through the ancient technique of saggar firing. Using a raku kiln and organic materials such as seaweed, pine needles, banana skins, copper wire, and mineral oxides, she embraces the unpredictable nature of the firing process. The resulting burnished vessels bear delicate smoke markings and layered, atmospheric tones, with each piece recording the unique interaction between earth, fire, and organic matter.
At the heart of Elaine's practice is a belief that handmade ceramics enrich everyday life. Whether creating functional pottery intended for daily use or unique decorative vessels, she seeks to make work that is timeless, tactile, and quietly connected to the landscape that inspires it. Through Allanwater Pottery, she extends this philosophy by fostering a vibrant creative community where traditional ceramic skills are celebrated and passed on.
Faq
Where can I find out more about the course?
If you need any further information about your course that is not on our website, please get in contact with us and we can provide you with the tutor’s contact details who can assist with your query.
What do I need to bring on my art, craft and activity break?
Your required kit list for your specific break is shown on each course’s webpage. Your tutor will also be in contact with you, prior to your course to confirm kit lists and questions you have.
Should you have any queries, then please feel free to contact us.
What is the art, craft and activity holiday booking terms and conditions?
To confirm your holiday a non-refundable 25% deposit is required to secure your booking.
The balance of your payment must be received no later than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement of your holiday. In the case of non-payment, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any cancellation fees will apply.
All deposits are non-refundable. Should you need to cancel your booking up to 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, we will refund any monies paid, less your deposit. If you cancel less than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, no refund will be given.
Holidays are subject to availability and subject to change. There is a minimum number of guests required to run each course. If a course is cancelled due to low numbers, you may transfer any monies paid to an alternative date or a full refund will be issued. We do advise you to take out holiday insurance for this reason.
What time do your transfer services for the art, craft & activity holidays operate?
We offer a complimentary transfer services to and from Stirling train station. Collection is at 3:30pm from the station on the day of arrival, and our drop-off service departs from Gartmore House at 9:15 am on day of departure.
The closest airports to us are Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. If you require a transfer to and/or from either airport, please select this option at the time of booking. Transfers to/from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are available at an additional cost. After booking your flights, please update your Customer Portal with the time you wish to be collected from the airport on the day of arrival and the time of collection at Gartmore House, returning to the airport, on the day of departure. Please allow 60 minutes for your transfer between Gartmore House and Glasgow Airport, or 90 minutes for your transfer between Gartmore House and Edinburgh Airport.
Can I bring a partner/friend to stay with me while I am on an art, craft or activity break?
If you’re coming on one of our art, craft or activity holidays and would like to bring a friend, partner, or member of your family, then we have you (and them!) covered. Accompanying guests will enjoy full board catering and shared accommodation with you. Please add them at the checkout stage.
Spots on this course are limited!
Book your spot now and join us at Gartmore House. We are confident it will deepen your understanding of acrylic painting.