Ceramics

Develop the skills and competences to work towards becoming a professional ceramics conservator or crafts person with our degree and diploma courses specialising in ceramics.

Conservation pathways

Conservation is a complex and exciting discipline and West Dean has a reputation for equipping students with the practical craft skills, science and theoretical knowledge required by employers in the sector. Icon accredited teaching staff ensure all work is consistent with Professional Standards, thereby ensuring you start your career on a trajectory consistent with professional expectations.

We offer two courses in Ceramics Conservation:

Level 6: Graduate Diploma in Conservation Studies
The course supports you to develop your interests in material culture, material science and professional and contextual studies. You investigate a wide range of ceramic types and contexts in order to equip you with the practical and transferable skills needed to build a professional profile. Ceramics technology and making techniques are introduced to support your conservation decision making.

Level 7: MA Conservation Studies
Students on this course work with different ceramics and objects from musems and private collections to develop and apply appropriate conservation treatments, such as preventive care through to reconstruction and visual integration. You will use appropriate methods to document objects and assess their condition, discuss treatment strategies, and take part in decision-making. Outcomes are recorded, discussed and communicated as part of learning through practice. Practical work will increase in complexity and a six week work placement will build on your existing skills and professional networks. Research and reflective practice are continuously developed to integrate practical, theoretical and professional skills as you develop increasing autonomy.

Level 7: MFA Craft Practices
A two-year full-time masters course designed to support you to further advance your practical, theoretical and professional skills, through an emphasis on specialist studio practice.

Craft Practices pathways

Degree and diploma courses on Craft Practices ceramics pathway designed to support you to further advance your practical, theoretical and professional skills, through an emphasis on specialist studio practice.

Level 7: MFA Craft Practices
A two-year full-time masters course designed to support you to further advance your practical, theoretical and professional skills, through an emphasis on specialist studio practice.

Level 6: BA (Hons) Craft Practices
One-year programme designed to provide a route into professional practice in ceramics or for progression onto postgraduate study.

Level 4&5: Foundation Degree in Arts - Ceramics
This course is designed to give you a well-rounded, broad experience of ceramic making processes and techniques, from individual hand built objects to small-scale batch production. Alongside this you will be exposed to the conceptual and theoretical knowledge required, to set up as a self-employed designer-maker or craftsperson, to be able to continue your studies in higher education or to find employment in the creative industry sector. Assignments cover issues of design, form, function, decoration, glaze technology and professional practice.

Foundation Diploma in Ceramics
This course offers a comprehensive understanding of the material and will enable you to gain a wide variety of clay techniques from hand-building to throwing, decorating and glazing work, that will develop your skills and build up your own creative language. You will be supported throughout the course, enabling you to create work based around your own research and interests.

Scholarships and Bursaries
We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries to support your studies. Find out more about funding.

Kirsten Ramsay of the BBC's The Repair Shop studied Conservation of Ceramics between 1989-1991 and shares her experience and memories of studying at West Dean. Video by Markus Dell

Archaeological Ceramics

Conservation courses career progression

West Dean's extensive links with museums, conservators and professional bodies in the heritage sector opens up an impressive range of work placement opportunities. Students graduating from our GD Conservation Studies students often choose to further their studies on the MA Conservation Studies which includes a six week work placement in professional studios, either in a public institution or private workshop. Alumni have had placements at, or gone on to work with:

Brighton Royal Pavillion
The British Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
Royal Collection Trust
Ashmolean Museum
The Metropolitan Museum
National Museums Liverpool
National Museums Scotland
Cliveden Conservation
Plowden and Smith Ltd
Sarah Peek Conservation

Student perspective

“Deciding to study at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation was possibly the most rewarding choice I ever made. I wanted to develop my practical conservation skills further, and West Dean College remains the only place to specialise in ceramics conservation. It is such a great experience to be part of the college and to have the opportunity to learn from tutors who are professional conservators and accredited in their field. West Dean College has exceeded my expectations, and the rich and stimulating learning environment has allowed me to advance my skills and grow in confidence.”

Andri Maimaridou, MA Conservation Studies

Facilities

Students work in the well-equipped ceramics workshop* with specialist facilities for cleaning, retouching and finishing. Facilities include:

Pottery studio for making, firing and finishing new work
Areas for photography and microscopy
Wet room for cleaning processes
Analytical laboratory

The on-site College Art and Conservation Library has thousands of specialist books and journals and students all have access to specialist databases in the IT suite.

Find out more about the facilities

Ceramics courses at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation

Conserving a ceramic pot at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation

Conservation of Ceramics at West Dean College Credit Chris Ison

Conserving a blue ceramic jug at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation

Student Conserving a ceramic pot at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation

Conservation of ceramics student at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation

Conserving ceramic objects at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation

Tutors

Lorna Calcutt Conservation of Ceramics Tutor at West Dean

Lorna Calcutt MA ACR FHEA

Programme Coordinator and Subject Leader for Ceramics and Related Materials

Lorna initially completed a BA(Hons) degree in Art and Design and a History of the Decorative Arts Programme, before attending West Dean as a student on the Programme she now leads. An MA related to Cloisonne enamel was completed in 2005 and continues to be a topic of interest.

Jasmina Vučković, ceramics tutor at West Dean College

Jasmina Vučković MA ACR FHEA

Subject Tutor Ceramics and Related Materials

Jasmina started her career as a ceramic artist earning an MA in the field from the University of Applied Arts, Belgrade, Serbia before she moved to the UK to pursue her career in conservation.

Since completing the MA in Conservation Studies in 2010, she has been working as a practising ceramics conservator in private practice in Brighton where she developed her practical skills to a high standard. She joined West Dean College as a Subject Tutor in 2018.

Tanya Gomez

Course Tutor - Foundation Diploma in Ceramics
Short Course Tutor

Tanya Gomez graduated from the Royal College of Art and is renowned for her vibrant large decorative vessels. She teaches from her studio in Lewes, East Sussex and exhibits throughout the UK and Internationally. Associated with the Craft Potters and Contemporary Applied Arts.