dynamic slipware
Monday 3rd - Thursday 6th November 2025
SUMMARY
Learn and develop new approaches to making and decorating slipware with an emphasis on action and spontaneity. Using Dylan’s making and decorating techniques as a beginning, students will pursue new shapes and ideas and learn to embrace fresh directions.
THE COURSE IN DETAIL
Clay will be sliced, carved, thrown and chopped. Slip will be poured trailed, brushed and splashed.
This four-day workshop will be loosely divided between making and decorating. Dylan will show his making techniques, hand building or on the wheel, that will be the starting point for the days work.
The first day will have an emphasis on creating surfaces to begin drying for the next days decorating. Dylan will then introduce slip decorating techniques, using trailers, brushes, sgraffitto etc. that will again be the starting point for individual expression.
Over the four days there will be time for the development of more individual and specific ways of working. Students will be able to take hold of Dylan’s techniques and approach, and begin to use them to develop their own ideas.
Throughout the workshop there will be a strong emphasis on embracing what happens in the moment, to being open to potential new directions during the making and decorating process. To recognise and embrace the potential for surprise when working in a loose and spontaneous way.
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Please see our Student Contract (below) for details.
Course Breakdown
Throughout Dylan’s workshop there will be a strong improvisational element so the course will run in a fluid way and will be influenced by the students’ interests. The below gives a guide as to the day-to-day course breakdown:
Day 1: AM - Dylan will introduce his methods for making plates, both on and off the wheel. Students will be able to try the various making techniques while creating multiple surfaces for the following day’s slip decorating.
PM: Dylan will demonstrate how to throw the components for his bottle vessels. These can also be made off the wheel. Students will spend time making these with Dylan’s guidance.
Day 2: AM - Dylan will demonstrate how to assemble the bottle shapes and students will construct their pieces. Dylan will then demonstrate his slip decorating techniques and the group will also explore more traditional methods of using slip, sgraffito, resist etc.
PM - Students will decorate the surfaces and plates made on day one.
Day 3: AM - Dylan will demonstrate his methods for constructing tall forms. Students will assemble these with Dylan’s support and guidance. Students will also have the opportunity to create more surfaces for slip decoration using the techniques, and further pursuing ideas, from day two.
PM - Dylan will demonstrate decorating bottle shapes.
During the last two days students will be able to follow more individual lines of making. If ideas occur, we will see where they go.
Day 4:
AM & PM - Dylan will show his methods for making carved cut sided forms. There will be a demonstration showing how to decorate the tall forms. Students will be able to finish decorating other plates/vessels.
There will also be time during the last two days for students to introduce their own ideas, based on what has already been covered.
FIRING
This is an intensive making and decorating course and there will be no specific kiln firing during the week, however, we will encourage students to keep, and finish, a few carefully selected pieces. These will be fired following the workshop and ready for collection at a later date.
Please note, there will be a small additional firing charge for final pieces. Details of our firing charges can be found in our Student Contract.
Please read our Student Contract here.
Please also note, we do not offer a glazing service.
About dylan
Dylan Bowen makes slip decorated earthenware using both traditional and contemporary materials and techniques. Dylan works on a small but ever mutating range of shapes, large platters, bowls and more sculptural forms. The clay can be thrown, cut, carved or hand built then slips are poured, dipped or brushed on.
Marks are made quickly using trailers while the layers of slip are still wet. Dylan’s work has its roots in traditional slipware but with many contemporary influences, he aims to capture some of the dynamism and spontaneity of the making process in the finished work.
Dylan trained with Clive Bowen at Shebbear Pottery before studying at Camberwell School of Art. He has shared a studio in Oxfordshire with Jane Bowen for the past 20 years.
Dylan is Fellow of the CPA and has exhibited widely in the UK and abroad.
THE SCHEDULE
DAY 1 - Arrive 9am Monday 3rd November
Welcome Breakfast (from 9am - 10am). The session will start at 10am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
DAY 2 - Arrive 9:30am Tuesday 4th November
On the second day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
DAY 3 - Arrive 9:30am Wednesday 5th November
On the third day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
DAY 4 - Arrive 9:30am Thursday 6th November
On the final day the session will start at 9:30am and will finish at 5pm. Students may continue to use the facilities until 7pm.
A two-course lunch is provided every day. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
PAYMENT
This cost for this four-day course is £800 This cost includes all necessary materials, tools, refreshments, a superb two-course lunch every day and a Welcome Breakfast on the first day.
You can pay in full or pay a deposit by clicking on the ‘Book Now’ button above. If you choose to pay a deposit we will contact you to arrange paying the remainder of your balance in instalments.
Before you book a course, please make sure you read our terms and conditions page here.
Please also read our Student Contract here.
TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
The Ceramic Studio is located on a beautiful orchard in Brenchley, and there are lots of lovely surrounding towns and villages offering numerous places to stay.
We are happy to arrange transits to and from your accommodation to the studio for the duration of your course. Please get in touch to arrange this. Please email the office team at info@theceramicstudio.co.uk. To see examples of local accommodation, click here.
Date: Monday 3rd - Thursday 6th November 2025
Duration: Four-day workshop
Venue: The Ceramic Studio (Brenchley)
Class Size: Maximum 10 students
Level: Some previous experience of throwing and hand building would be useful
Clay type: Earthenware
Cost: £800 (pay in full or instalments)
“It’s dynamic and dramatic, keeping the physical energy in the marks.”
