About Us
Our Teachers
The Clay Studio’s teachers have many years of experience, and work in a fun, free-flowing, creative style.
Teacher / Founder
Meet:
Eunice Locher
Eunice started teaching ceramics and pottery classes at Emerson College in Forest Row in 2000. Then, for many years she ran “The Grapevine Studio”, making and teaching ceramics to both adults and children. In 2007 she moved to Northern Portugal to open a Retreat Centre and from there Eunice established a large studio making her own porcelain product range, as well as running many 7-10 day pottery holiday courses. On her return to Sussex in 2016, Eunice founded the “The Clay Studio”. As well as managing the studio, she still passionately loves hands-on teaching.
Teacher
Meet:
Helen Ashton
Helen’s love for ceramics started 14 years ago whilst assisting Eunice at the Grapevine Studio with the children’s pottery classes. Since then she has developed her own style focusing on textures and forms from nature. Helen’s scientific background has led to an interest in glaze development, and the outdoor technique of raku and smoke firing. It is because of Helen the studio has such a great pallet of glazes. She joined The Clay Studio at its conception to help bring pottery classes to this corner of Kent and Sussex.
Teacher
Meet:
Susana Garcia
Susana is an expert “thrower” who runs a number of courses for Kent Adult Education, as well as teaching at The Clay Studio. Susana’s ceramic work is wheel-thrown or hand-built in stoneware and porcelain, inspired by her love for pattern, colour and nature. She has a patient and supportive style of teaching. She has a very wide range of knowledge on Surface Decoration.
Teacher
Meet:
Lara Gorlach
Lara performs a wide range of duties across a number of classes. Lara brings youthful energy to the studio, and her humorous and caring nature is particularly appreciated by our “senior potters” and children. Alongside her interest in ceramics, Lara is a professionally trained textile designer and screen printer, and runs her own screen printing business: www.laragorlachstudio.com
Teacher / Technician
Meet:
Sydney Alts
Sydney began her journey with clay at the age of 7 in a class run by Eunice. Since then, Sydney has continued practicing by taking up throwing lessons, working in an artisan shop, helping potters to make their work. In 2017 she began studying 3D Design and Craft at the University of Brighton, specialising in ceramics. Having always been drawn to colour and pattern, Sydney’s main practice is based around coloured clay and surface design, exploring the technique of Nerikomi.
Teacher
Meet:
Eloise Nash
Eloise has been passionately working within Ceramics for the past 13 years in a range of roles and applications. She graduated with a Master of Design in Materials practice (specialising in ceramics) from the University of Brighton in 2014 and has since taught at a number of studios around Sussex, Kent and London. Eloise’s experience to this point has taught her the incredible value that art, particularly ceramics, can have for people’s physical and mental wellbeing and has since begun her journey within Art therapy, studying for her MA at Goldsmiths in London. Eloise’s passion lays with the wheel and throwing and she tends to work with collections, playing with the spontaneous nature that throwing on the wheel embodies.
Teacher / Technician
Meet:
Celan Cox
Cellan was introduced to clay about 5 years ago when he began to teach himself to throw. Recently graduating from the 3D Design and Craft course at Brighton University, his work mainly focuses on joining wood and ceramics in furniture. He is continuously improving his ceramic skills, with a main interest in throwing, particularly with larger pieces.