The Great Pottery Throw Down was a hit. Now there's a book to match. Sharon Dale reports.

Ready, Steady, Throw
Handcrafted pottery jarsHandcrafted pottery jars
Handcrafted pottery jars

Like Bake Off before it, The Great Pottery Throw Down has captured our imagination and brought out our inner maker.

While it’s possible for the amateur to attempt a tarte tartin at home, it’s impossible to throw and fire a pot but that hasn’t stopped hundreds of Throw Down fans from having a go at turning lumps of clay into useful and beautiful objects.

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Many pottery classes are now over-subscribed thanks to the BBC2 series.

Pot by Hebden Bridge-based ceramicist Katch SkinnnerPot by Hebden Bridge-based ceramicist Katch Skinnner
Pot by Hebden Bridge-based ceramicist Katch Skinnner

Ceramicist and tutor Katch Skinner, who runs pottery courses at Northlight Studios in Hebden Bridge, is a big fan of the show and says: “The series has been great for clay and there is a lot more interest in learning how to use it.

“We now have two evening classes, two daytime classes and people hot desking in our ceramics studio. We also have weekend workshops and summer schools. I have never been so busy loading the kiln and I am loving every minute.

“I hope that the interest in ceramics continues and I can’t wait for the next series.”

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For those who want to learn more about the subject, there is now an official companion to the TV show. The Great Pottery Throw Down book by Elizabeth Wilhide and Susie Hodge is a compelling and well-researched read.

Work by Yorkshire-based Matthew Wilcock, winner of The Great Pottery Throw Down.Work by Yorkshire-based Matthew Wilcock, winner of The Great Pottery Throw Down.
Work by Yorkshire-based Matthew Wilcock, winner of The Great Pottery Throw Down.

It unveils the history of the craft and showcases a wide range of pottery from prehistoric clay figures to Meissen porcelain and work by well-known makers, such as Clarice Cliff, Lucie Rie, Grayson Perry and Edmund de Waal.

It also explains the processes and various techniques.

“In an increasingly virtual and standardised world, there is something immensely satisfying about working with clay. Shaping the raw material connects us to the subtle intelligence in our hands and the heightened awareness of the role of touch. Learning the skills of coiling, slabbing and throwing brings alive techniques that have been practised for thousands of years,” says Elizabeth Wilhide.

“It’s a grounding experience, quite literally, as we explore a material that comes from the earth we stand on.”

Pot by Hebden Bridge-based ceramicist Katch SkinnnerPot by Hebden Bridge-based ceramicist Katch Skinnner
Pot by Hebden Bridge-based ceramicist Katch Skinnner
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She warns that for all its meditative qualities, making ceramics, comes with many challenges.

“Long before the heart-stopping moment when the kiln is finally opened, before there is a chance to see whether firing has wrought its magical alchemy or brought crushing disappointment, there are many hurdles to overcome and skills to perfect. Ceramics makes a broad demand on its practitioners and that is one of its enduring attractions.”

*The Great Pottery Throw Down is published by Pavilion Books, £20.

* The Centre of Ceramic Art at York Art Gallery is devoted to promoting greater understanding and enjoyment of British studio ceramics. It has the largest collection of British Studio pottery in the UK and all the big names are there, including Lucie Rie, David Lloyd-Jones and Grayson Perry. There are also ceramics dating back to pre-history and Clare Twomey’s Manifest, which features 10,000 handmade bowls. Entry is £7.50. Visit www.centreofceramicart.org.uk for details.