2026 Events
As well as the teaching at the Clay Half, and managing that side of the business, I'm trying to continue with my own Irene Hughes Pottery work in my home studio but this year am beginning to blend the two with some making taking place at the Clay Half studio when it's empty and soon I'll be selling my work there too.
I am trying to keep a balance between teaching and attending events, exhibitions and workshops for my own development, they are such a great way to meet the customers and get feedback and input relating to my work. I am always striving to keep learning and developing my skills.
It's all incredible and challenging and fullfuilling, I'm grateful that I'm doing what I love as a job.
Here's what's in store for Irene Hughes Pottery this year!
JANUARY 2026
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Classes start at the Clay Half after Xmas break - 17th Jan
FEBRUARY 2026
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Wood Firing 14-15th Feb
March 2026
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Scottish Potters Association Spring Gathering - 13-15th March
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Wood Firing - 21st-22nd March
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Glaze Course at Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden - 23rd-27th March - funded by VACMA grant awarded Dec 2025
April 2026
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Clay North-East - at Inverurie - 25-26th April
MAY 2026
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Wood Firing 9th-10th May
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Angus Creatives Festival of Makers - Art Market at House of Dun - 29th-31st May
JUNE 2026
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Clay Half Students Exhibition - Clay Half, Murray Street, Montrose - Date to be confirmed
October 2026
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Wood Firing 10th-11th Oct ?
November 2026
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Clay Half and friends at Pop by ProMo Pop-up Shop - 2-7th November
December 2026
Past Events
December
Clay Half Tutors Exhibition - Pop, Montrose
September
North East Open Studios - Clay Half, Montrose
Wood Firing
Started Ceramics Short Course at Grays (10 Weeks) - Slip Casting and Glaze Making
JUNE
Clay Half Students Exhibition - Clay Half, Montrose
MAY
Angus Creatives Festival of Makers - Clay Half, Montrose
April
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Start of Grays Short Course (12 weeks) - Ceramics : Introduction to Principles Processes and Practical Techniques
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Clay North-East - at the Barn, Banchory
March
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Scottish Potters Association Spring Gathering - 1-3 March (sadly missed due to illness...)
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Wood Firing - end of March
December 2024
Clay - Hospitalfield, Arbroath
November 2024
Clay Half Tutors Exhibition
October 2024
Clay Half Students Exhibition
September 2024
North East Open Studios
July 2024
Clay Half tutors exhibition & pop-up shop
April 2024
Lexie MacLeod Workshop Weekend, Springfield Creative Arts, Arbroath
Clay North-East Weekend at the Barn, Banchory
March 2024
Scottish Potters Association Spring Gathering - 1-3 March
Wood Firing - end of March
24-26 November 2023
On the anniversary of the official opening of the Clay Half, a weekend of work on exhibition and for sale hand crafted by the tutors who have worked here over the last year. Ceramics, paintings, jewellery, soft furnishings and more.
clay half 1st anniversary
student exhibition & pop-up shop
22-24 September 2023
The ethos of the Clay Half is to encourage people to refind their creativity and make creative classes accessible. For those students who have attended throughout the year this is a chance for their work to shine! The event will exhibit students work and if they are happy to part with it their work will be for sale.
neos (north east open studios)
Montrose is just within the southern boundary for the NEOS annual event and i have been participating for 4 years already! I hope to be part of it again this year and i do love opening my little pottery studio at the end of my garden on the High Street. It's a little oasis of calm in the town centre and surprises everyone, I especially love letting folk see my own little studio in the former garden shed! As usual, I will be making pots on my wheel throughout the week, so you can see the process in action!
Angus creatives festival of makers
13 - 21 May 2023
The second Angus Creatives Festival of Makers will provide another great opportunity to host several unique workshops in Montrose for folk to come and have a go. This time i will be based at the Clay Half as I open the doors throughout the week to exhibit the work of Angus based makers and offer some workshops. The Montrose Playhouse will also once again be a venue for other Festival of Makers events.
Sat 13 May - Kids with Parents Pottery Workshops with Irene Hughes, 10am - 12noon
Sun 14 May - Silver Pendant or Earring Jewellery Workshop with Sheila Roussel, 1- 4pm
Mon 15 May - Paint Montrose Landmarks on Ceramic Tiles, with Kirsten Richie Walker, 2 - 4pm
Weds 17 May - Paint Montrose Landmarks on Ceramic Tiles, with Kirsten Richie Walker, 2 - 4pm
Thurs 18 May - Applique Cushion Workshop, with Jennie May, 2 – 4pm
Fri 19 May - Open Studio, 10am - 8pm
Sat 20 May - Pottery Taster Sessions, with Irene Hughes, 10am - 12noon& 2 – 4pm
Sunday 21 May - Open Studio, 10am - 4pm
Scottish potters association spring weekend 2023
The Scottish Potters Association's spring gathering at the beginning of March, is a great opportunity catch-up with potters from across the country over a weekend as well as the chance to watch and chat with professional potters as they work. An important event in my working calendar and much missed after 3 years of Covid cancellations.
Wood firing - mid march
I am looking forward to working with the wood firers again mid March, the group has been firing the Angus based kiln for over a year now and every time we are further developing the skills we have gained over the last year. Wood firing is a lot more complex and involved than the normal electric kiln firing that i do both at my home studio and the Clay Half. It's a full weekend of loading the kiln and 20+ hours of constant stoking of the fire required, gradually building up the temperature to 1300 degrees centigrade. Always a really satisfying weekend and even better when the weather is kind for our outdoor weekend! Fingers crossed we're lucky in March...could be snow!!!
Saturday 10th December 2022 10am-4pm
Angus Creatives Ceramicists brought together at Hospitalfield House, Arbroath for a fantastic Festive Event.
I'm really looking forward to this event, the first of it's kind in Angus that i can recall with a focus purely on ceramicists from the area.
Saturday 26th - Sunday 27th November 2022 10am-5pm
Inaugural Open Studio Weekend at Clay Half in association with other Angus Creative members opening their studios across Angus for the weekend. More information to follow.
Friday 25th November 2022 10am-3pm
North Lodge, Fasque, Fettercairn, AB30 1DN
I'm delighted to be joining Hetty and Mags for the day for this festive event.
Sunday 13th November 2022 1-4pm
Montrose Academy's Festive Fayre - Sorry, change of plan - I'm donating a gift voucher for a class at the Clay Half to the raffle, but I amn't going to have a stall here.
from 19th September 2022...
CLAY HALF becomes a reality!!!!
(formerly The Blue Door Gallery)
My pottery studio opens!! It's at 55 Murray Street, Montrose DD10 8JZ. I collect the keys on the 19th September and will be running with pottery classes. These are now available to book via the Classes page.
Until 1st October 2022
The Telling Tales debut exhibition by Angus Creatives, local artists inspired by the places they live and work. Their work tells the tales of Angus through the shapes, rhythms and colours of the land, sea and sky, the creative materials that are foraged locally, and the history of the people. Exhibitions runs from 29th July to 1st October 2022. Brothock Gallery, Arbroath Library, Hill Terrace, Arbroath, DD11 1AH
Exhibitors Kate Cunningham, Shona E Barr, Astrid Weigel, Jo Gifford, Victoria Wylie, Judith Davies, Kirsten Ritchie Walker, Rachel Manzie, Kirsty Baxter, Jeni Reid, John Burness, Maureen Crosbie, Frances Marquis, Carol Sinclair, Lily Garget, Irene Hughes, David McGovern, Kristina Aburrow
September 2022
10-18th September
North East Open Studios (NEOS)
Back for my fourth year as part of NEOS I am opening the doors to my High Street garden studio. 22b High Street, Montrose, DD10 8JL
August 2022
Angus Creatives Festival of Making
November 2021
13-14th Christmas Fair at Park Hotel, Montrose
26-28th November Open Studio Exhibition with Applied Arts Members (Details to be confirmed)
October 2021
25-31 st October Craft Scotland Week
Springfield Creative Arts will be open on 3 days:
Tasters, Demonstrations and Exhibition of Ceramics
by at least 3 potters/ceramicists on 3 days. The event is FREE – but please book tasters on Monday 25th,
Thursday 28th and Saturday 30th 10.00 – 4.30pm
Other times by arrangement, please.
September 2021
11-19th September - North East Open Studios (NEOS)
Once again I am delighted to be opening the doors to my High Street garden studio as part of NEOS. My venue will be open every day during NEOS from 10am - 5pm but please note I am closed on Wednesday 15th September 2021.
September 2020
NEOS ran from 12-20 September 2020,
when I again opened my studio to the public in a Covid safe way.
August 2020
16th-23rd at Edzell Old Post Office Pop-Up Shop
Running a shop for 7 days with my artist friend Trish Winton.
December 2019
Sunday 8th December
Makers for Maggie's Christmas Market
A Christmas market with a fantastic line up of local and regional designers, artists and makers all supporting Maggie's Cancer Centre in Dundee. Located at the RRS Discovery and Discovery Point next door to the V&A on Dundee's Waterfront.
Saturday 7th December
Montrose High Street Xmas Extravaganza
Festive stalls and fairground rides on the High Street, Montrose
November 2019
30th-2nd December
Xmas Pop-Up @ Springfield Creative Arts
A festive themed Pop-Up at my second ceramics home, Springfield Creative Arts in Arbroath. There were a variety of artists selling their work, jewellery, stained glass, original paintings, sculpture and pottery.
September 2019
NEOS ran from 16th-23rd September 2019, and I opened my studio to the public for the first time.