At Old Stables Pottery & Gallery, we believe that creativity has the power to bring people together. Our team-building and corporate workshops offer a chance to step away from the everyday workplace, work with your hands and experience the simple satisfaction of making something together.

Working with clay creates a different kind of space for connection. There is no pressure to be perfect — participants are encouraged to experiment, explore texture and form, share ideas and enjoy the process. The experience naturally encourages conversation, collaboration and moments of laughter, while giving teams the opportunity to connect outside their usual work environment.

Our workshops can be designed around your team, from relaxed wellbeing sessions to more interactive creative experiences. Participants may explore hand-building, botanical textures, sgraffito, clay vessels or other techniques, with each person creating a unique handmade piece to take home.

Set within the peaceful South West landscape, Old Stables provides an inspiring environment to pause, reconnect and recharge.

Whether you are planning a team-building day, corporate retreat, staff wellbeing activity or simply looking for a meaningful experience for your team, our workshops offer something different — a shared experience, a creative challenge and the opportunity to make a moment together.

A Two-Day Pottery Workshop with Gary Hambleton

$280 per person · Two days · Limited to 5 participants

Spend two days immersed in the craft of teapot making with experienced potter Gary Hambleton at Old Stables Pottery & Gallery.

This intimate workshop is an opportunity to explore the process of creating a functional teapot from clay, from throwing the main forms on the pottery wheel through to assembling and refining the finished piece.

With only 5 places available, the workshop allows for individual guidance and plenty of time to work closely with Gary, ask questions and develop your skills.

Day 1 — Building Your Teapot

The first day focuses on creating the individual components of your teapot.

You will:

• Explore the qualities of clay suitable for functional stoneware

• Learn how to throw the body of your teapot on the pottery wheel

• Create the lid and understand how it needs to fit the form

• Learn about designing and making a functional spout

• Explore the construction of a comfortable, balanced handle

• Consider proportion, form and functionality as you develop your design

Day 2 — Bringing It Together

On the second day, you’ll assemble and refine your teapot, bringing all the individual elements together.

You will:

• Learn techniques for attaching the spout, handle and lid

• Refine joins and surfaces

• Explore alignment, balance and proportion

• Consider the functionality of your teapot and how it will pour

• Complete your individual teapot ready for firing

The emphasis throughout is on learning, making and understanding the craft, rather than simply following a predetermined design. Each participant will create a teapot that reflects their own ideas and developing skills.

Workshop Includes

• Two full days of hands-on instruction

• All clay and workshop materials

• Demonstrations and individual guidance from Gary

• Use of studio equipment and tools

• Firing of your completed teapot

• Your professionally finished ceramic piece

A Small, Personal Workshop

With only 5 participants, this is a deliberately small workshop designed to provide a more personal learning experience.

Whether you are an experienced potter wanting to explore teapot construction or a clay enthusiast ready to take on a new challenge, Gary will guide you through the process at each stage.

About Gary Hambleton

Gary Hambleton has decades of experience as a practicing potter and ceramic artist, with a deep knowledge of stoneware, functional pottery and high-temperature firing.

His approach to teaching is practical and generous, sharing the knowledge gained through years of working with clay, developing forms and understanding the relationship between craftsmanship and function.

Location

Old Stables Pottery & Gallery
Mullalyup, Western Australia

Only 5 places available.

Come for two days of clay, making and conversation — and leave with the knowledge and experience of having made your own teapot.

Handbuilding with Gary Hambleton

90 minutes · $95 per person · Ages 11+

Discover the simple pleasure of working with clay in this intimate, hands-on introduction to handbuilding with Gary Hambleton at Old Stables Pottery & Gallery.

Designed for beginners and those curious to explore clay beyond the wheel, this session introduces the fundamentals of handbuilding in a relaxed and encouraging studio environment. Gary will demonstrate practical techniques and share his knowledge of form, construction and surface, while allowing you the freedom to develop your own ideas.

You’ll work with your hands to build a unique ceramic form, exploring techniques such as pinch pots, coiling, joining and surface texture. The emphasis is on learning through making, understanding the character of clay and enjoying the process.

In this session, you will

• Learn basic handbuilding techniques including pinch pots, coiling and joining

• Explore ways of shaping and constructing a simple ceramic form

• Experiment with texture and surface detail

• Work alongside Gary with individual guidance

• Create your own unique piece to be professionally fired and glazed

Workshop includes

• Clay and all materials

• Use of studio tools

• 90-minute guided session with Gary Hambleton

• Bisque and glaze firing of your completed piece

• Your finished ceramic work, ready for collection

Finished pieces generally take 6–8 weeks to complete as they go through the firing and glazing process.

Who is it for?

Suitable for beginners and clay enthusiasts aged 11+. No previous experience is necessary.

This is a small-group experience, allowing plenty of opportunity for guidance and conversation with Gary.

About Gary Hambleton

With decades of experience as a practicing ceramic artist and potter, Gary brings a deep understanding of clay, form and craftsmanship to his teaching. His approach is thoughtful and encouraging, giving participants the confidence to explore while learning the fundamentals of making.

Location

Old Stables Pottery & Gallery
Mullalyup, Western Australia

Come and spend some time with clay, learn from an experienced potter, and make something that is uniquely your own.

Step into the world of pottery and experience the rhythm of the wheel with master potter Gary Hambleton at Old Stables Pottery & Gallery.

Set within our historic studio in Mullalyup, this hands-on session offers a relaxed introduction to the fundamentals of wheel throwing. Gary will guide you through preparing and working with clay, centring, and shaping your first simple form on the wheel.

Whether you are an emerging ceramic artist or an experienced potter looking to expand your glaze knowledge, this workshop will provide practical skills, confidence and creative inspiration.

Under the guidance of renowned ceramic artists Gary Hambleton and Japneet Keith, you’ll investigate the science and artistry behind successful glazes while developing your own unique glaze palette through extensive hands-on testing and experimentation.

From concept to finished object, we develop considered ceramic products for brands, businesses and makers. Our process combines industrial design thinking with material knowledge to create functional, distinctive and commercially viable pieces.

Create something uniquely yours. We develop customised ceramic pieces for private clients, interiors, collections and special spaces — from tableware and sculptural objects to architectural and decorative pieces, tailored to your aesthetic and requirements.

Make a lasting impression with thoughtfully designed ceramic gifts and hospitality pieces. We create bespoke collections, branded tableware and meaningful corporate gifts that bring craftsmanship, local character and a personal touch to your brand or occasion.

Achieve signature hues through a hands-on testing session that refines recipes to your exact vision.