Clayways

Clayways, pottery studio in Nantwich

Clayways is a pottery studio located in Aston, between Nantwich and Whitchurch, in the county of Cheshire. The project was started by Tracy in 2025, building on a hobby spanning more than three decades: after years of making pieces as a hobby, training on courses in the UK and abroad, and teaching at a local workshop, she set up a garden studio that soon outgrew its role as a personal space to become a full-time business. Jess, Lauren and another Tracy joined her, and the team maintains a hands-on, friendly approach, with the idea that at Clayways you learn by making, not by copying a painted model.

Classes and workshops: from the wheel to the clay slab

The training offer is organised into workshops, regular classes and one-to-one sessions. Pottery workshops are taught in small groups, with a maximum of six participants, and have two session times per day. Wheel throwing classes break down the process of centring, opening and shaping so that progress is visible, while hand building classes work on templates, joins and supports to give pieces greater strength. There are also beginner classes and one-to-one tuition sessions, both wheel throwing and hand building, designed for focused practice and direct guidance on a specific form or design.

Ceramics catalogue and personalised gifts

In addition to training, the studio sells handmade ceramics and personalised commissions. The catalogue ranges from everyday pieces, such as a glazed garlic pot, a ceramic butter crock with optional message, a small colander or berry bowl, to gift and celebration items: personalised handwriting coasters, wedding ring dishes, leaf-shaped wedding favours, a chip and dip platter with personalised windmill, or a hand-painted new baby first mealtime set. The Forever Notes line turns real handwriting and drawings into ceramic keepsakes, and the studio takes on custom ceramic commissions for clients from different countries.

Catalogue formats and prices

The shop shows different learning formats and products with their prices: half-day introductory workshop of four hours with tuition (£65), two-hour one-to-one introductory tuition (£50), five-session studio flexi-pass (£195), six-week expert wheel throwing course (£395), three-day pottery intensive (£495), Christmas pottery workshop with a reduced price of £95 versus £135, and studio gift vouchers from £45. Personalised pieces include handwriting coasters (£25), leaf wedding favours (£6.50), wedding ring dish (£8), ceramic wedding favours (£24), windmill platter (£48), new baby first mealtime set (£45), garlic pot (£35), butter crock (£32) and colander or berry bowl (£30).

A studio with its own team

The team combines different profiles. Tracy, known as TC, has run the business since 2025 and has taught hundreds of people of all ages and levels to centre on the wheel. Jess joined at the end of 2025 and looks after glazes and kiln management in particular; her seven-year-old daughter Ava is starting out in the workshop. The other Tracy arrived in the summer of 2026 from her own craft business and brings wheel throwing experience and social media expertise. Lauren, who runs her own project Spicy Bean Creates, adds ideas and practical guidance to the team.

Customers and scope of activity

The studio serves beginners, couples, friends and groups, and over the past two years has welcomed learners and customers from Crewe, Chester, Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford, Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Northwich and Macclesfield. Activity is divided between classes and workshops, the sale of handmade ceramics and personalised commissions, all from the same workshop.

Location and contact

35 Oaks Close, Nantwich, CW5 8BJ · Phone: 01270 306189 · Email: hello@clayways.co.uk · Office hours: Monday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00