Sgraffito Workshop with Ben Hall
5th March 2025
Learn the ceramic decorative technique of Sgraffito with Ben Hall
Explore the ceramic decorative technique of ‘sgraffito’ and create a bespoke stoneware plate with carved indigo motifs.
In this 2 hour workshop, ceramicist and musician Ben Hall will share his practice with you and demonstrate his take on sgraffito – a technique that involves scratching through the surface of an object to reveal the contrasting colour beneath.
You will then have the chance to carve your own design into a clay plate, which will be hand-thrown before the workshop by Ben. You can take inspiration from Ben’s work, featuring undeniably Northern imagery and the life of fells and valleys, or create your own unique designs.
After the workshop, your plate will be glazed and fired, before being posted to you from Ben’s studio in Sheffield.
Workshop Information
- This workshop is open to ages 18 and over
- There is limited availability with 12 places per workshop
- The workshop will last approximately 2 Hours
- Light refreshments will be provided, please let us know in advance of the workshop if you have any food allergies
- This workshop will take place on the ground floor of Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery. There is ramp access to the building.
- All materials will be provided
Ben will take the work away to be fired, and the finished piece will be posted back to participants within 10 weeks of the workshop.
Photographs will be taken during the workshop and may be shared online, in print material and to promote the National Festival of Making and Ben’s work in the future. Please let us know before or during the session if you would not like to be included in any photography.
Ticket Prices:
We have two ticket prices for this workshop – whichever you choose will give you the same workshop experience.
General Tickets – £40
Lower Cost Tickets – £20
Both ticket prices have been subsidised by our funding to allow more people to take part in making activities, however, one has been more subsidised than the other. The ‘Lower Cost’ ticket option is for those who don’t feel able to pay £40 for the experience. The £20 ticket does not require any proof of status. It is self administered on a trust basis. We hope those who can will pay the standard workshop ticket price; and the affordable options will be accessed by those who need them.
If you’ve purchased a ticket but find yourself unable to attend the workshop, please ensure that you submit a refund request at least 72 hours before the event. This allows us to make the ticket available to others. Failure to request a refund before the 72-hour deadline will result in the inability to receive any reimbursement.
If you have any questions about ticket prices, please contact sophie@festivalofmaking.co.uk
Workshop Times:
The workshops will take place on Saturday 29th March at Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery, to book a spot choose from one of the following times:
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
About Ben Hall:
Benjamin Hall – otherwise known as Mr Ben – is a ceramicist, painter, singer and songwriter. Self-taught, hugely energetic and profound, everything he touches has a quietly gorgeous quality. With a staggeringly prolific output Hall has recorded and released 10 albums, toured the UK with his band twice a year all alongside running a thriving pottery studio in the heart of Sheffield’s old engraving district.
Hall’s pieces range from humble tableware to beguiling illustrative vases, jars and oil paintings. Traditional ‘Sgrafitto’ and slip trailing are at the heart of the ceramic decoration, with handmade tools carving intricate and expressive forms into smooth white and tactile terracotta clay. Hall’s onus is on marrying his idiosyncratic approach to medium with creating objects of use, while honouring techniques of makers of the past.
Undeniably Northern imagery is etched across all of his work, with the life of the fells and valleys of his native Westmorland furrowed into clay, painting and song.
