All fired up for pottery workshops! 

Liz Nicholls

Hayley Farrelly shares her love of pottery with workshops at her studio, including a chance to make A Pair Of Jugs & play with “silver clay”! We find out more ahead of Mother’s Day

Gazing into one of Hayley Farrelly’s beautiful glazed azure bowls is as mesmerising as looking into a giant eye. Different shades of blue shimmer from the centre like an iris, thanks to Hayley’s skills, and a journey that started six years ago.  

“Pottery was something I’d always wanted to learn since going to an after-school club at the age of 15,” says Hayley. “When I turned 45 I joined an adult pottery class in Denham through Bucks Adult Learning. I thought I’d do a couple of terms and tick it off my list, but I got totally bitten by the bug! In 2019 I bought my first kiln and potter’s wheel and converted the log cabin in my garden into my studio.  

“Slowly, people started asking to buy my pieces and then eventually was asked to run a small workshop in Chartridge with Charlotte Reynolds from Studio Portobello. Since then, my ‘hobby’ has turned into a full-blown business with regular workshops in my studio and in Great Missenden Memorial Hall. I also sell my pottery in Little Wren Collections in Great Missenden High Street and at local craft fairs. I love to use the delicate and translucent celadon glazes, adding texture and depth with patterns, stamps and mixing complimentary colours to the stoneware. This achieves a more vibrant and often drippy, iridescent effect which means each piece is unique.”  

Hayley lives in Ballinger with her husband and two rescue cats, Loki and Lola. “Loki is a very large ginger boy, and Lola is a very small tortoiseshell girl, both from the same litter found at five weeks old by the RSPCA,” she says. “I also used to keep chickens, specifically Silkies.” 

The couple moved to Ballinger 24 years ago with their two sons, who went to Lee Common School, Great Missenden School and Chesham Grammar, then flew the nest for London. As well as running her business, busy Hayley is clerk to governors at a local independent prep school and clerk to two local parish councils. 

“I love meeting fellow pottery enthusiasts and introducing the joy of making and creating with clay to others,” adds Hayley. “I love the fact that so many of my customers return time after time. The workshops are relaxed and fun and accessible for all skill levels, they do give a bit of challenge adding a great sense of achievement when they have finished making their pieces. I have workshops throughout the year and hold private workshop session. Later this year I’m also launching Silver Clay workshops in Great Missenden – this incredible product starts off as clay and then when fired, turns into solid silver!”