Welcome!

This long established workshop is rethinking itself into a CERAMIC CAFÉ.

The pots won't change but we invite visitors to watch, to learn, to chat over a coffee, to have-a-go, and perhaps to buy.

We have produced a video so you can find out more about us.

JOHN RIVERS is the potter, who has built his own gas kiln and digs his own clay locally.

PAT SMITH is the gentle presiding presence and occasional chef.

John pots to show and sell.

John and Pat run occasional courses: Saturday and weekend schools.

Pat has a real job, but also works in textiles and loves cooking.

Please follow the links above to discover more about Riddings Pottery.

To navigate the webpages click on the button to the left of the page heading, eg 'Courses'.

Contact us at: riddingspottery@hotmail.com

News

The "new video" has been "in production" for a long time but maybe will soon be finished and active - Apologies.

2011 was a reasonable year ceramically with two of the usual highlights - Perth's Scottish Potfest (in the grounds of Scone Palace) in June and John's intensive fortnight at the Edinburgh Festival in August. But there was a massive extra in November, which meant no autumn courses: a show in Sheffield Cathedral with 15 other 'Northern Potters'. Most of us made new and personally challenging work to put 'in situ', in some specific location within the Cathedral; as well as a large selling exhibition in The Baptistry at the rear of the building.

The latter John organised. WOW! A labour of Hercules! For the former he chose 4 poetic texts he had cherished for decades, as verbalising great truths in times of crisis, and tried to record/dramatise them in clay. Four extracts from Lear's delerious ravings on the 'heath' made up one panel, 4 insights into the injustice and corruption he had let flourish in his own kingdom. The 4 panels hung round a huge pillar in the nave....sermons in stones?? The quartet was not wholly successful but it was an invigorating new way of working.

This year we are organising early. Three week-end courses are available in Jan., Feb., and April respectively. Something more may be possible in June or early July - perhaps a week-long course to allow the glazing and firing to be included. Register your interest as soon as possible and maybe we can negotiate a time-slot/time-table.