THE KILN ROOMS

O5 – O8 June 2O25 – Peckham
a celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and community, marking 1O years of our studios.

What an incredible 10 year celebration! From Thursday evening’s lively opening to an inspiring weekend of makers’ showcases, enlightening talks, hands‑on demos, and meaningful connections, the Festival was a joy from start to finish. Over the four days, our Bellenden Road and Copeland Park studios presented over 100 talented ceramicists showcasing studio‑made work. Guests enjoyed a packed speaker programme with Rich Miller, William Cobbing, Florian Gadsby, Kate Malone, and Ikuko Iwamoto, plus a brilliant “Routes to Market” panel, leaving us all buzzing with ideas and inspiration.

The Master Sketches charity exhibition gave an intimate insight into artists’ creative processes and helped us raise funds for FiredUp4. 

Together, through sales donations and the Master Sketches sales, we raised a whopping £2,356.68 for FiredUp4! These funds go directly towards making ceramics more accessible for young people – so a big thanks goes out to everyone who purchased something, for supporting the next generation of makers.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined, supported, and made it an unforgettable 10th‑anniversary celebration – Here’s to another 10 years of craft and community spirit of The Kiln Rooms! 

Check out what we got up to…

members sale

Showcasing the work of around 1OO emerging ceramic artists and designers. Held across our Bellenden Road and Copeland Park studios, the show offers a unique opportunity to explore and purchase a diverse range of handmade ceramics, meet the makers, and see where the work is created.

Guest speakers

Featuring five leading figures from the world of ceramics, across three days, these experts shared their knowledge, experience, and creative journeys, offering invaluable insights into contemporary ceramic practice.

charity exhibition

The Kiln Rooms proudly presented Master Sketches, a unique exhibition in our lecture theatre at the Copeland Park studio. Showcasing original A4 sketches from leading ceramicists, this collection offered a rare insight into the creative process behind a selection of incredible ceramist’s work. All works were available for sale, with proceeds going to FiredUp4!

panel discussion

Director of the Crafts Council, Natalie Melton and a diverse panel of speakers explored the variety of ways early-career ceramicists can bring their work to market. Panellists shared insights into pricing, branding, and building a sustainable practice. 

workshops

In collaboration with ClayGround Collective, locals and visitors were invited to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty in a unique participatory project. This interactive event encouraged people of all ages and abilities to contribute to a growing ceramic landscape, inspired by the local area and its communities.

live demonstrations

A series of live demonstrations showcasing a wide range of ceramic techniques, led by a talented mix of members, teachers, and technicians of The Kiln Rooms. These sessions offered a unique opportunity to witness making in action, covering everything from wheel-throwing and hand-building to glazing and surface decoration.

members sale

At the heart of the festival, we hosted our bi-annual Members Sale, featuring the work of 80-100 emerging ceramic artists and designers. From functional wares to decorative pieces,  a diverse range of handmade ceramics was on display and available to buy. Taking place across the Bellenden Road and Copeland Park studios, our sales provide a unique opportunity to meet the makers, see where the work is created, and purchase original works.

All sales directly support local, independent artists, with 5% of proceeds also donated to FiredUp4, a charity dedicated to expanding ceramics education and access for young people in need.

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guest speaker programme

Our guest speaker programme featured a dynamic selection of leading figures from the world of ceramics. Rich Miller, renowned potter and much loved judge from The Great Pottery Throw Down, performance artist William Cobbing, social media legend and thrower Florian Gadsby, glaze master and national treasure Kate Malone and contemporary porcelain artist Ikuko Iwamoto joined the lineup. Across three days, these experts shared their knowledge, experience, and creative journeys, to inspire and inform emerging makers.

panel discussion: routes to market

Chaired by Crafts Council’s Creative Director, Natalie Melton, the Routes to Market panel discussion featured experts from the industry including gallerist Sarah Myerscough and tableware, studio production specialist Maham Anjum and ceramicist Chris Bramble, offering valuable advice to early-career ceramicists and covering topics including gallery representation, pricing, branding, building a sustainable practice and more. 

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William Cobbing

Friday 11am

kate malone

Friday 2pm

ikuko iwamoto

saturday 11am

rich miller

Saturday 2pm

florian gadsby

sunday 11am

routes to market panel discussion

sunday 2pm

Master sketches charity exhibition

The Kiln Rooms proudly presented Master Sketches, a unique exhibition showcasing original sketches from leading ceramicists, this collection offered a rare insight into the creative process behind their work. We invited all professional contributors to our Development Programme from the past ten years to submit a sketch that reflects their practice, revealing the often unseen stages of artistic development.

Each sketch is an original piece, framed and available for purchase. The display was a charity exhibition, with all profits donated to FiredUp4, an initiative dedicated to providing young people across the UK with access to clay, ceramics education, and creative opportunities.

More than just a display, Master Sketches offered visitors a deeper connection to the artistic journey, highlighting the importance of drawing as part of making. Whether you’re a collector, a maker, or simply curious about the process behind ceramics, this exhibition was a special opportunity to engage with the thoughts, experiments, and early ideas of renowned artists, while supporting a vital cause.

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participants

​Anna Barlow, Laura Bird, Hannah Bould, Dylan Bowen, Jane Bustin, Freya Bramble-Carter, Christie Brown, Stuart Carey, Carina Ciscato, Alison Cooke, Robert Cooper, Carys Davies, Tessa Eastman, Fred Gatley, Rebecca Griffiths, Yasmin Hamouda, John Higgins, Verity Howard, Amy Hughes, Helen Johannessen, Shane Keeling, Chris Keenan, Emma Lacey, Katrin Maier, Kate Malone, Gareth Mason, Jane Muir, Bisila Noha, Sue Paraskeva, Richard Phethean, Ella Porter, Sara Radstone, Christopher Riggio, Adam Ross, Julia Schuster, Ester Svensson, Nicola Tassie, Chris Taylor, Louisa Taylor

community workshops

Free, drop in clay making sessions!

The Kiln Rooms and ClayGround Collective invited locals and visitors to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty in a unique participatory project. This interactive event encouraged people of all ages and abilities to contribute to a growing ceramic scene inspired by the local area and its communities.

Over three days, the project evolved as participants created individual pieces reflecting Peckham’s culture, history, and daily life. Whether sculpting, hand-building, or experimenting with textures, everyone was welcomed to take part, shaping a collaborative artwork that celebrated creativity and connection.

This project embodied the spirit of community and shared making, values at the heart of The Kiln Rooms and ClayGround Collective. It’s gave participants the chance to learn new skills, meet fellow creatives, and leave a lasting mark on a collective piece of art.

We are incredibly grateful to Potclays for their generous sponsorship, providing a ton of clay to bring this project to life!

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live demonstrations

Throughout the festival, The Kiln Rooms hosted a series of live demonstrations, showcasing a wide range of ceramic techniques. Led by a talented mix of members, teachers, and technicians, these sessions offered a unique opportunity to witness making in action. Demonstrations covered everything from wheel-throwing and hand-building to moulds and surface decoration.

Open to all, these demos allowed   visitors the chance to engage with the craft, ask questions, and gain insight into the diverse processes behind contemporary ceramics.

demonstration schedule

Thursday 6pm-7pm: Throwing Off the Hump with David McGuire

Friday 12pm-1pm: Throwing Globular Bottles with Manuel Calvo

Friday 3pm-4pm: Press Moulding with Tair Almor 

Saturday 12pm-1pm: Throwing a Teapot with Amy Gordon

Saturday 3pm-4pm: Production Throwing with Yasmin Hamouda

Sunday 12pm-1pm: Throwing / Trimming a Pendent with Justin Page 

Sunday 3pm-4pm: Animal Modeling with Veronika McQuade

Sunday 3pm-4pm: Nerikomi with Giulia Fassone

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