From mid-September until late November, local artist Fiona Veacock will be hosting family-oriented ceramics workshops as part of our day events. 

These workshops will give participants the unique opportunity to create objects made from clay, which Fiona will fire, glaze and return to the Visitor Centre for collection.  

Workshop 1: Tricorn Hat Planter 

Sunday 25 September | 11am – 1pm or 2 – 4pm | £28.50 pp [with discount available for multiple bookings] 

On Sunday 25 September, the Old Royal Naval College will host a visit from the historic character Joe Brown, a naval pensioner originally from Bermondsey, who served under Nelson onboard HMS Victory at Trafalgar.  

As part of the day’s activities, local artist Fiona Veacock is running this two-hour hand-building class with studio stoneware clay. Inspired by the tricorn hats worn by the Greenwich Pensioners, participants will create a three footed planter using slabbing, stamping / impressions and joins. Firing, glazing and return of your work to the Naval College are all included. 

Beginners will get plenty of help, but children under 8 will need adult assistance. 

Click here to book.

Workshop 2: Diwali Hand Dishes 

Saturday 22 October | 11am – 12pm, 12.15pm – 1.15pm, 1.45pm – 2.45pm and 3pm –4pm | £16 pp [with discount available for multiple bookings] 

On Saturday Oct 22nd the Old Royal Naval College will be running activities to prepare for Diwali. This simple hand building with clay workshop session will allow participants to create a dish from their hand shapes, ideal for a tea light.  

This workshop is for adults and children. Beginners will get plenty of help, but children under 8 will need adult assistance. It is not hugely messy but if you need to preserve special outfits do feel free to bring your own aprons. 

The dishes will be fired, glazed and returned to the Shop at Discover Greenwich for collection from the 14th of November.  

Click here to book.  

Workshop 3: Pirate Face Tiles 

Sunday 23 October | 10.30am – 12.00pm, 12.15pm – 1.45pm, 2.15pm – 3.45pm | £22 pp 

During October half term the Old Royal Naval College will be running fun family activities with a pirate theme, including a visit from the female pirate character Grace O’ Malley. 

In this hand building clay workshop session, participants will be creating pirate faces as wall tiles. Maybe your pirate has a fantastic scar or tattoo or a rainbow eyeshadow habit or a wonderful lipstick collection? 

Choose an air-plant to create a crazy beard or eyebrow or hairstyle, create a pocket in your design where the plant will grow, get modelling and let your imagination run wonderfully riot! 

This workshop is for adults and children. Beginners will get plenty of help, but children under 8 will need adult assistance. 

The dishes will be fired, glazed and returned to the Shop at Discover Greenwich for collection from the 14th of November. 

Click here to book.

Workshop 4: Christmas Decorations  

Sunday 27 November| 12pm – 12.45pm, 1pm – 1.45pm, 2.15pm – 3.00pm, 3.15pm –4pm | £10 – £12.50 pp 

Nov 27th is Museum Shops Sunday, a national day of activities to promote the fantastic retail offers of Heritage & Cultural sites. As a supplier of the gift shops at the Old Royal Naval College, Fiona has been invited to create these special festive creative sessions.  

Participants will be using a traditional studio ceramics technique called Sgraffito, scratching through a coloured layer on a contrasting clay colour to reveal the clay underneath. 

For this session Fiona will have prepared a rich dark studio grade stoneware clay into shapes and over painted with a contrasting white clay, which will be stiff and partially dry.  

This session allows for settling in, sketching a few ideas, and then carefully scratching through to reveal your design. The cost includes the studio prep and kiln costs. You can pre-book additional decorations to draw on.  

This workshop is for adults and children. Beginners will get plenty of help, but children under 8 will need adult assistance. 

In addition to this activity, there will also be an additional table for longer free play with clay. This won’t be charged or fired. 

The dishes will be fired, glazed and returned to the Shop at Discover Greenwich for collection from the 10th of December. 

Click here to book.