Creative Breaks in Herefordshire

WPA member Pearl Taylor has given this information.

This year, Creative Breaks is celebrating 25 years of reviving, supporting, and championing both traditional and contemporary crafts across Herefordshire and the surrounding counties.

Courses and Crafting with Heart

Our 13 members are a passionate and experienced bunch—deeply rooted in their crafts and always eager to pass on their skills. 

Personally, I host playful pottery experiences, often tailored to people who might not usually think of taking part in a pottery session. Some are supported through community schemes, others are funded by my self-catering guests who pay to enjoy the challenge of a mini Throwdown-style throwing session on the wheel.!  From relaxed “have-a-go” sessions in local village halls to one-to-one workshops, I offer a wide range of ways for people to dip their toes—or hands!—into something new.

Some sessions are 1-2 hours but others take on a life of their own. I’ll never forget one memorable day that stretched into six hours. A mother and daughter—navigating an incredibly tough time—came to escape it all with clay. We ended up sharing a spontaneous barbecue lunch, Later the Mum said:-

“As the day went on, I felt something bubbly in my heart—I remembered the joy I felt when I first started at art college.”

This response is why I share my love of clay, I love to teach now outside of secondary school! 

Each year I take a course in a particular discipline to try to improve,. This year I am with Nigel Lambert to further explore single firing and slip decoration on earthenware as a way of further cutting my temperatures and my firing frequency. Last year it was with Jean Sampson at Mid Wales Arts firing the girel style kiln using just 1 cubic metre of wood. I have a strong thread of sustainability running through my practices both in fleece and mud.  I endeavour to ensure that people leave with at least one good pot that they take pride in and will keep.  

As a result of “correcting” many a wonky off-centred attempt I have improved in my throwing and my own teaching skills and adaptability. Centring with severely scrunched arthritis or finding a way to help someone with a brain injury balance and cope with the wheel going around – all challenge but we haven’t failed yet!

Back to Celebrating 25 Years with an Exhibition in Hay-on-Wye

To mark our 25th anniversary, Creative Breaks will be holding a group exhibition of our own work at The Chair in Hay-on-Wye during Herefordshire Art Week, from Tuesday 1st to Sunday 14th September 2025.

As ever, when we come together, there’ll be a flurry of demonstrations, artist talks, and taster workshops, all centred on our theme for the year: Rivers. We’d love you to pop in, say hello, get inspired, and maybe get your hands dirty!

For more details, visit: https://www.creativebreaks.co.uk