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About Us
Horton Heath Ceramics is a traditional studio. Unlike the contemporary ‘Clay Cafes’ which have popped up in recent years and cater to the one stop, walk in passers by, the traditional studio is much more about learning different techniques that will enable you to find exactly the finish you want, in a way you find enjoyable to do.
Moreover, all our items are home produced. We pour our own ceramics from plaster moulds using a liquid ‘white earthenware’ clay called ‘Slip’. These are cleaned (fettled) and fired on site and then ready for you to paint.
At Horton Heath Ceramics we have hundreds of moulds and, as this is something of an obsession the numbers keep going up. With so many moulds to choose from you can be absolutely sure that there is something that you are going to like, the problem is knowing which one to do first!!
This kind of ‘hobby ceramics’ was originally started in America around 90 years ago and, due to it’s massive success, quickly spread across the world. We truly believe that we offer such a versatile and varied range of ways of producing absolutely beautiful and individual ceramics that ‘traditional studios’ will stand the test of time and will again become the popular pastime that it was.
What makes Hobby Ceramics so fantastic is that anyone can do it. You will find yourself looking around shops and comparing your items, favourably, with those for sale on the shelves. If you compare them to the factory produced, bulk buy items, you will be proud to say that yours is a lot better!
Our History
In 1988, I accidentally stumbled across a Ceramics Club at the RAF base where I was stationed. For a year or so, I created little ‘masterpieces’ which was, for someone as artistically challenged as me, incredibly rewarding.
When I left the RAF and got married, I looked around for a club. I checked boards in Art shops, local papers, walked the streets, but couldn’t find a club anywhere.
At the beginning of 2006 I finally found a club, fortunately or unfortunately it was For Sale. There was only one thing for it, I had to buy it!
Well so much has changed since my WRAF days. There are now so many different mediums available on the market and so many wonderful techniques that make it possible to create amazing designs and finishes. So, I went about getting as much training as I could to bring me up to date, and I continue to do this.
In May 2006 I officially opened Horton Heath Ceramics. My first victim – my mother! Mum offered, somewhat reluctantly, to paint while I talked to visitors. From that day on she has been totally hooked! Hobby Ceramics comes with a warning – it is HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.
Unlike the High Street Clay Cafes, Horton Heath Ceramics is a traditional studio. With the exception of cups and plates, I pour all the ceramic pieces myself. This provides me with another addiction – I love pouring moulds and more than that, I love buying new ones.
We are perfectionists when it comes to cleaning up (‘fettling’) each piece and these are then fired in our kiln and are then ready for you to personalise. The huge range of finished items (bisque) includes perfect gift ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, birth announcements, mothers & fathers day, Easter, Christmas, the list goes on.
As well as offering bisque for you to paint, you can learn other techniques such as One Stroke (Claire is a One Stroke Certified Instructor), create masterpieces of your own with Sculpey Clay, mess around with greenware and create unique items during our workshops, experiment with speciality glazes, and the list goes on.
The latest addition to our shop is our new candles. Horton Heath Candles are soy wax or beeswax based. These natural candles add a new dimension to our shop as well as making it smell amazing! We will be selling our candles online in the very near future and hope you like what you see.
Moreover, all our items are home produced. We pour our own ceramics from plaster moulds using a liquid ‘white earthenware’ clay called ‘Slip’. These are cleaned (fettled) and fired on site and then ready for you to paint.
At Horton Heath Ceramics we have hundreds of moulds and, as this is something of an obsession the numbers keep going up. With so many moulds to choose from you can be absolutely sure that there is something that you are going to like, the problem is knowing which one to do first!!
This kind of ‘hobby ceramics’ was originally started in America around 90 years ago and, due to it’s massive success, quickly spread across the world. We truly believe that we offer such a versatile and varied range of ways of producing absolutely beautiful and individual ceramics that ‘traditional studios’ will stand the test of time and will again become the popular pastime that it was.
What makes Hobby Ceramics so fantastic is that anyone can do it. You will find yourself looking around shops and comparing your items, favourably, with those for sale on the shelves. If you compare them to the factory produced, bulk buy items, you will be proud to say that yours is a lot better!
Our History
In 1988, I accidentally stumbled across a Ceramics Club at the RAF base where I was stationed. For a year or so, I created little ‘masterpieces’ which was, for someone as artistically challenged as me, incredibly rewarding.
When I left the RAF and got married, I looked around for a club. I checked boards in Art shops, local papers, walked the streets, but couldn’t find a club anywhere.
At the beginning of 2006 I finally found a club, fortunately or unfortunately it was For Sale. There was only one thing for it, I had to buy it!
Well so much has changed since my WRAF days. There are now so many different mediums available on the market and so many wonderful techniques that make it possible to create amazing designs and finishes. So, I went about getting as much training as I could to bring me up to date, and I continue to do this.
In May 2006 I officially opened Horton Heath Ceramics. My first victim – my mother! Mum offered, somewhat reluctantly, to paint while I talked to visitors. From that day on she has been totally hooked! Hobby Ceramics comes with a warning – it is HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.
Unlike the High Street Clay Cafes, Horton Heath Ceramics is a traditional studio. With the exception of cups and plates, I pour all the ceramic pieces myself. This provides me with another addiction – I love pouring moulds and more than that, I love buying new ones.
We are perfectionists when it comes to cleaning up (‘fettling’) each piece and these are then fired in our kiln and are then ready for you to personalise. The huge range of finished items (bisque) includes perfect gift ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, birth announcements, mothers & fathers day, Easter, Christmas, the list goes on.
As well as offering bisque for you to paint, you can learn other techniques such as One Stroke (Claire is a One Stroke Certified Instructor), create masterpieces of your own with Sculpey Clay, mess around with greenware and create unique items during our workshops, experiment with speciality glazes, and the list goes on.
The latest addition to our shop is our new candles. Horton Heath Candles are soy wax or beeswax based. These natural candles add a new dimension to our shop as well as making it smell amazing! We will be selling our candles online in the very near future and hope you like what you see.
