218 - Pet Figurine Workshop with Dave Short

On a bright Saturday afternoon in Broadway, England, the second-floor studio comes alive with the soft click of tools and the warm, earthy smell of terracotta. The 218 - Pet Figurine Workshop with Dave Short invites makers and animal lovers to a focused, two-hour session where pinching and sculpting techniques turn small lumps of clay into expressive pet studies. Led by Great Pottery Throwdown Finalist Dave Short, the class emphasizes rapid shaping—catching a breed’s posture, a twitch of an ear, or the suggestion of movement in compact, pocket-sized forms.

The format is brisk and hands-on. In groups capped at ten, participants work through a series of quick studies, trying multiple poses and finishing touches. Colored slip is available for surface detail, and during the session everyone selects four favourites to be fired and glazed.

If you want more than four pieces fired there’s a modest charge of £4 per extra piece; finished work is ready for collection within about four weeks. All materials, tools and firing/glazing services are provided, so you can travel light and leave with keepsake ceramics rather than packing supplies. Accessibility and logistics are straightforward but important: the classroom is on the second floor and there is no lift access, and the workshop welcomes participants aged 10 and up.

Organizers ask you to arrive about five minutes early to settle in. The pace suits beginners and hobbyists—no prior pottery experience is required—while the instructor’s pedigree means you’ll receive practical techniques rooted in professional practice. What makes this workshop special is the combination of speed and artistic intuition.

Rather than slow wheel work, these sculptural exercises teach you to suggest anatomy and movement with minimal marks and simple pinching methods. That approach trains observation as much as hand skills: you learn to read an animal’s pose and translate it into a compact figurine that conveys personality. This is an ideal booking for visitors staying in Broadway who want a short, creative escape from sightseeing.

It’s equally rewarding for families with older children, craft travelers collecting hands-on experiences, and locals seeking a concentrated skills session. Expect a communal, studio-like atmosphere—focused, friendly, and quietly industrious—where you finish the afternoon with clay on your hands and a plan to come back for the next round of firing and glazing. Small class size means one-on-one feedback from Dave Short, so expect direct instruction on armature, proportion and surface treatment.

The quick-fire format is great for developing an eye for silhouette and economy of mark, and the fired, glazed pieces make thoughtful gifts or keepsakes. Because the studio supplies everything, you can book with carry-on luggage only. Space is limited to ten participants, so reserve early to secure a place and plan ahead.