Hillside Pottery School

Peter trained in ceramics at Morley College in London under Duncan Hooson and Annette Welch. He set up his own studio in Iliffe Yard in London in 2009 and became a selected member of the Craft Potters’ Association in 2010. After moving from London to West Sussex, he now makes tableware and one-off decorative pieces, often using glazes made with locally sourced wood ash. He has been teaching at the Forest Row School of Ceramics for many years and really enjoys helping students to achieve their making goals.

Ximena is a member of the 'London Potters' organisation and sells her work in shops and at fairs and markets in Sussex and London and also internationally – she has many having happy clients around the globe. As well as teaching at Forest Row School of Ceramics, Ximena holds private sessions in her home studio and is the current Clay modelling and Ceramics teacher for the upper school at Michael Hall Steiner School.

Trained at Camberwell School of Art (1986-89), achieving a BA Hons Degree in Ceramics, Liz specialised in hand-built sculptural heads. In later years she reconnected with throwing and taught all-level throwing for The Forest Row School of Ceramics for four years (2019-23). She loves seeing the excitement students feel when they have mastered the magic of making pots on the wheel. Liz has a home studio in Lingfield, Surrey and makes work on commission and sells direct at local trade events.

Izzy moved to the Sussex countryside in Summer 2020 after graduating with a First in 3D Design and Craft at the University of Brighton. Her own studio is shared with a group of Brighton alumni who have been granted access to some art studios within the grounds of a Great Walstead school. When not teaching at Hillside Pottery she teaches after school clubs, a range of workshops and summer holiday clubs.

Debbie is an experienced thrower, painter, printmaker, and all round craft person. She has attended many advanced ceramics courses over the years and as a tutor, likes to encourage her students to try new challenges, both in form and in decoration. She has her own studio at home, but loves to teach. Originally a geologist by training, she is also very interested in working with different types of clay and surface decoration.  

Claire's career as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator inspires her use of surface pattern, texture and colour in her Ceramics. She has taken master classes and advanced courses in wheel throwing, sculpture, glaze chemistry, kiln firing and decorating techniques and enjoys sharing her knowledge with students.

She is a member of the Southern Ceramics Group and teaches in Brighton, Forest Row and her own studio in Storrington. Her work is sold through commissions, in galleries, and her own website and she participates in Brighton Artists Open Houses twice a year.

Alisha holds a Bachelor of Arts with first - class honours in Ceramics from Cardiff Metropolitan University. She has a passion for throwing, hand -building and sculpting as well as glaze chemistry.and loves to utilise craftsmanship in addition to more expressive and contemporary making methods. Alisha is keen to share her creativity, passion and technical skill with others, helping them on their own ceramic journeys. Alisha is also one of our technicians.