Frequently Asked Questions

Classes & Workshops

  • Not at all. Our beginner classes and taster workshops are designed to welcome complete beginners, and your teacher will guide you through the process step by step.

    If you're booking an intermediate class, please check the individual course description for the recommended experience level.

  • If you'd simply like to experience pottery and see how you enjoy it, we recommend starting with one of our 2-hour Taster Workshops.

    If you'd like more time to develop your skills, our 6-Week Beginner Courses offer a more structured introduction to pottery.

    You can explore Wheel Throwing, Hand Building, or a combination of both depending on the course.

  • Wheel Throwing uses the pottery wheel to create forms such as cups, bowls and vessels.

    Hand Building is done primarily by hand using techniques such as pinching, coiling, slab building and carving. At Trace, many of our hand-building workshops also draw inspiration from Asian ceramic traditions and techniques, including Kurinuki, Nerikomi and Chawan making.

    Both are suitable for beginners — it simply depends on what you'd like to explore.

  • We keep our classes intentionally small so that everyone has time with the teacher and space to work comfortably.

    Class sizes vary depending on the workshop and technique, so please check the individual class page for details.

  • Our 6-Week Courses run on fixed dates and missed classes cannot normally be transferred or replaced.

    Your teacher will do their best to help you catch up where possible, but please make sure you can attend the course dates before booking.

    For full cancellation and rescheduling terms, please see the policy shown with your booking.

  • Yes. Drying and firing can cause shrinkage, warping, cracks or glaze variations. We handle every piece with care, but ceramics is an unpredictable process and a finished result cannot be guaranteed.

Membership & Studio Access

  • Membership is designed for makers who already have enough experience to work independently in a shared ceramics studio.

    You don't need to be an expert, but you should understand the basic making process and be comfortable using the studio safely.

    If you're completely new to pottery, we recommend starting with one of our courses first.

  • No. Membership gives you independent studio access rather than structured teaching.

    Our technicians can help with general studio procedures and technical questions, but they are not able to provide ongoing one-to-one teaching while on duty.

    All members can also join our free monthly Group Guidance Session for additional support with their practice.

  • For your first studio session, please arrange a time with us in advance. We’ll make sure a technician is available to give you a full studio induction, introduce you to the space, and explain how everything works.

    After your induction, you don’t need to book your studio time in advance, you’re welcome to come in independently during your membership access hours.

  • Depending on your membership plan, you'll receive studio access, personal storage, use of shared studio equipment and basic tools, firing allowance, access to studio glazes within your allowance, and our monthly Group Guidance Session.

    Clay is purchased separately.

    Please see our Membership page for the latest allowances and pricing.

  • Yes. Monthly members receive designated personal storage according to their membership type.

    As we're a shared studio, please keep personal tools, materials and work within your allocated storage space.

  • Weekly membership hours are designed to be used within the relevant week and do not roll over.

    This helps us keep studio access fair and manageable for everyone in our shared space.

  • For your first studio session, please arrange a time with us in advance. We’ll make sure a technician is available to give you a full studio induction, introduce you to the space, and explain how everything works.

    After your induction, you don’t need to book your studio time in advance — you’re welcome to come in independently during your membership access hours.

Firing & Materials

  • Yes. We offer firing services for work made outside Trace, subject to our firing requirements.

    We need to know exactly which clay and materials have been used before accepting outside work, as unsuitable materials can damage both your work and our kilns.

  • Additional firing is charged according to the current firing system and the type of service required.

    As firing prices and allowances may occasionally change, please check our latest Firing information or ask the studio team before bringing your work in.

  • Please check with us before using any outside clay or glaze in our kilns.

    We need to know the clay body, glaze and recommended firing temperature to make sure they are compatible with our firing schedule and safe for the kiln.

    If we cannot identify the material, we may not be able to fire the work.

Visiting Trace

  • We're an independent canal-side ceramics studio in Hackney Wick, East London.

    Trace focuses on small-group teaching, independent studio practice and ceramic techniques inspired by traditions across China, Korea and Japan.

  • Yes. We offer private sessions, birthdays, team activities, corporate workshops and customised group experiences.

    Depending on your group and experience, we can arrange Wheel Throwing, Hand Building or technique-focused workshops.

    For larger or bespoke bookings, please contact us directly.

  • Yes, we're a dog-friendly studio.

    Please make sure your dog is comfortable in a shared working environment and remains supervised while in the studio.

  • We're always happy to help.

    If you can't find what you're looking for here, email us at info@traceceramics.co.uk and our team will get back to you.