About us
We are Muddy Fingers pottery, aka Marvin Kitshaw and Diane Nicholson, not forgetting the marketing team consisting of two spaniels called Sally and Maggie!
Marv started the business around 15 years ago and Diane joined a few years later. We are self taught potters, both having design backgrounds (Marv in 3D and Diane in Fashion)and we are constantly researching and learning new techniques. Glaze chemistry fascinates us and we love seeing new products coming out of the kiln.
Tableware
Here at Muddy Fingers we believe in producing well designed, well made tablware that will stand the test of time. We take pride in supplying some of Britain's (and the rest of the world)best restaurants and chefs including Tom Kerridge, Thomas' at Burberry, Jason Atherton, 02 arena, Deutsche Bank and many more.
Currently distributing our tableware through direct requests to us or via G&G Goodfellow, we look to release a new range at least once a year and we are constantly developing glazes to add to our collections. We specialise in designing one off products bespoke to your requests. Please get in touch if you've got an idea in mind.
All of our tableware and cookware is food safe, oven proof, dishwasher safe and frost proof.
Workshops and classes
Each week we run 3 adult night classes on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night at our workshop in Jarrow for students of all levels. Roughly every 6 weeks we run a beginners course on a Monday night and this is a feeder course to the other night classes as you will learn how to use our equipment and various making and glazing techniques.
We ru one off sessions once a month at the Laing Art Gallery and most weekends you will find us out and about doing classes at venues up and down the country.
Please see the learning pages for more details.
Alternative firings
About our workspace
Being production potters, we need a fair amount of space to cope with making hundreds of pots at a time. With the amount of students we have, it made sense to move our workshop to an industrial unit. So this finds us at Unit 9 on the Royal Industrial Estate in Jarrow. It's within a 15 minute walk to either Jarrow or Hebburn metro and there's a bus stop right outside the estate. Loads of car parking available and not too far from the Tyne Tunnel too.
Our facilities include:
5 potters wheels
a big handbuilding table
a large wall mounted extruder
a pigeonhole for each student to keep their pots in
stoneware clay
porcelain for making small pieces of jewellery
coloured slips
bespoke glazes
underglazes
watercolours
LOTS of stamps and tools
banding wheels
2 kilns
Theres a loo, microwave, kettle and always lots of different teas and coffee to help yourself too.
Most of the time there's 2 little dogs at the workshop. Sally and Maggie. They are very friendly and are part of the Muddy family.
Testimonials
Raku workshop student
I've just had a brilliant time at the raku workshop at the Biscuit Factory. Great fun, learnt a lot, all in a relaxed atmosphere. I'll definitely be doing more workshops with Muddy Fingers.
Carley (regular night class student)
I started the beginners course over a year ago after taking some time away from working with clay. I found that the techniques I had already practised were refined and improved with the help of Marv and Diane. Their studio has such a relaxed atmosphere and there is always a buzz of creativity in every class.I have continued taking their classes over the last year despite having my own equipment, simly because their ability to teach and pass on their knowledge and experience is invaluable.
Sue (regular night class student)
Acouple of years ago I started a 6 week course at Muddy Fingers pottery and I'm still there! Diane and Marv have endless patience and their knowledge is amazing. My ideas always exceed my ability but they can usually find a way to help me achieve my goal. It's a great feeling to use something you've made yourself. The students are from all walks of life and the atmosphere is very relaxed and jovial. Just a great place to chill out, I love it.
learn with us
This year we've got so many workshops going on that there's bound to be something to suit you.
From one off sessions at Summer festivals, monthly pottery sessions at the Laing art Gallery and our ever popular 6 week courses at our workshop in Jarrow, we are serious about having fun with clay whle learning as much as you can.
Take a look at the links below for more info and how to book and we'll see you at an event soon!