Description
Artist Talk: James Evans – Chance, Form and the Making of a Sculptural Practice
County Hall Pottery, London
Date: Thursday 10 September 2026
Time: 6:00pm–8:00pm
Doors open: 6:00pm
Price: £15 standard / £10 concession
Duration: Two hours
Format: Illustrated artist talk and audience Q&A
Join ceramic artist James Evans at County Hall Pottery for an evening exploring the experiences, influences and experiments that have shaped his sculptural practice.
Tracing his journey from art education in Suffolk and London to postgraduate study in the United States, James will discuss his transition from an early ambition to become a traditional potter towards an internationally exhibited practice centred on sculpture, architecture and the human form. The presentation offers a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the artist about the discoveries, accidents and changes of direction that have informed his work.
About the Talk
This illustrated lecture explores James Evans’s personal journey through ceramics, examining the education, mentors, cultural experiences and periods of experimentation that have shaped his artistic development.
James will reflect on studying in both the United Kingdom and the United States and consider how the different artistic philosophies, facilities and cultural settings he encountered broadened his understanding of ceramics. He will discuss his early ambition to become a traditional potter and the gradual development of a more sculptural approach to clay.
The talk will introduce key teachers and mentors who encouraged this transition, alongside an honest account of the creative process, from the first appearance of an idea to the technical and material decisions involved in bringing it into being.
A central theme will be the importance of chance and experimentation. James will consider how accidents, misjudgements and unexpected material outcomes have repeatedly opened new possibilities and redirected his practice.
The presentation will also explore the continuing relationship between the human form and architecture within his work. James will discuss the influence of London’s museum collections and the ways in which classical sculpture, architectural fragments and weathered surfaces have informed several bodies of work.
These include sculptural pieces inspired by fractured classical forms displayed on metal supports, as well as more intuitive, process-led slab constructions whose textured surfaces evoke eroded stone, reclaimed architectural details and the passage of time.
The talk will conclude with an opportunity for questions and discussion.
Running order:
6:00pm: A member of our team will meet you in the entrance hall and escort you to the Studio.
6:15pm: Refreshments, welcome and introduction
6:30pm: Illustrated artist presentation
7:15pm: Audience questions and discussion
7:45pm: Informal conversation
8:00pm: Event closes
Who Is the Talk For?
The event is suitable for practising ceramicists, artists, students, collectors and anyone interested in contemporary ceramics, sculpture, architecture or the creative process.
About James Evans
James Evans is a London-based ceramic artist whose sculptural practice draws on the human form, architecture and the passage of time. Originally from Suffolk, he studied ceramics at Central Saint Martins before receiving a full scholarship to continue his studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, where working at a larger scale transformed his approach to materials and form.
Since establishing his South London studio in 1990, James has exhibited widely in the UK and internationally. His work has been shown at the Barbican Centre, Crafts Council, Marsden Woo and Midlands Arts Centre, and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. He was shortlisted for the Jerwood Applied Arts Prize in 2001 and the Arts Foundation Fellowship in 2004.
His recent work explores flowing, textured slabs and sculptural forms that evoke eroded architectural fragments, reclaimed stone and the physical traces of time.
Key Information
Artist: James Evans
Talk: Chance, Form and the Making of a Sculptural Practice
Date: Thursday 10 September 2026
Time: 6:00pm–8:00pm
Location: County Hall Pottery, Belvedere Road, Waterloo, London, SE1 7PB
Duration: Two hours
Format: Illustrated artist talk and Q&A
Capacity: Maximum 35 guests
Standard ticket: £15
Concession ticket: £10
Concessions
Concession tickets are available to students, people aged 60+, disabled visitors, and anyone for whom the standard ticket price would be a financial barrier. No proof is required. Use code: CONCESSION at the checkout
Masterclass: James Evans – Textured Slab Forms and Dynamic Handbuilding
County Hall Pottery, London
Dates:19 – 20 September
Times:10:00 – 16:00
Price:£250 per person
Duration:Two-day Masterclass
Join James Evans for a two-day masterclass exploring textured slab building and the creation of flowing, dynamic ceramic forms. Participants will be introduced to new approaches for shaping, texturing and assembling clay, with an emphasis on understanding how the material can be controlled, manipulated and encouraged to move.
Bookings via: https://countyhallpottery.com/product/masterclass-james-evans-textured-slab-forms-experimental-surfaces/
All classes will take place in our pottery studio at: County Hall Pottery, Belvedere Road, Waterloo, SE1 7PB.
A welcome email with further instructions about what to expect before your class is sent around a week before your class commences. This email will be sent to the email provided at booking.
Your instructor will meet you in the foyer of the main entrance to County Hall Pottery on Belvedere Road – you’ll know you’re in the right place if you’re standing on the beautiful mosaic floor! They will take you through to our studio space. If you are running late, please call the studio phone when you arrive as you will need to be escorted.
Please feel free to bring a sketchbook or notepad along to make notes during your workshop.
We really hope that you enjoy your workshop with us!
If you have any questions, please see our frequently asked questions page here or contact us at gallery@countyhallpottery.com.linux136.unoeuro-server.com.
Collection of Artwork
Your work will usually be ready for collection within 6 weeks, but times may vary depending on firing schedules. You will be notified by email when your pieces are ready for you to pick up from our gallery.
Shipping
You can arrange for your artwork to be delivered to you (for an additional fee) within one month of the original pick up email being sent out. If your pieces have not been collected or sent within this time-frame, then we regret that we will have to give them away to our local community, as we are limited on shelf space. While we follow best practices to protect all ceramic pieces during packaging, we cannot guarantee that damage will not occur in transit. Once your item leaves our gallery, we are not responsible for any breakage or loss that may happen during shipping.
In-person pickup is highly recommended for delicate or sentimental pieces.
Clay Allocation
A set amount of clay is included in the courses. Two kilograms of clay is included in a 3-hour class. Ten kilograms of dry clay work is included in a 6-week course. Additional clay is available to purchase at a cost of £2.50 per 500g of dry work. Work is weighed before the first firing.
Rescheduling, Cancellation And Refund Policy
* For one-day courses, when given 10 or more days’ notice we can either reschedule, refund or generate a gift code for rebooking your class.
* For one-day courses, when given 9 days or less notice for a cancellation for any reason, we regrettably are unable to reschedule or provide a refund. There are no exemptions. However, you can transfer your place to another individual. Please send us their name in advance.
* For courses longer than one-day, we regret we will not be able to replace or rearrange missed sessions. Please do not ask us to make exceptions.
* We can only accept one named individual to attend sessions for the duration of a course, individuals cannot transfer their place for any of their sessions.
* Gift Cards are non-refundable
* When an instructor is unable to teach a one-day class, for example due to illness, we will do our best to find an alternative. If that is not possible, you will receive a full refund. Notice of this will be given as soon as possible.
* If a teacher is unable to cover a session on a 6-week course, the session will be covered by an alternative and the class will continue as usual. Notice of this will be given as soon as possible.
Health And Safety Policy
* Pottery is a messy business, so it is advised that you wear clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty. We provide aprons but you are welcome to bring your own.
* Please don’t wear loose clothing or jewellery that might catch and tie up long hair.
* Closed-toe shoes are preferable
* There is no eating inside the studio. Drinking is only permitted from a closed-top vessel. There is a kitchenette that adjoins the studio where eating and drinking are allowed.
* Please let us know if you have any allergies, health or accessibility requirements in good time before the class, by emailing gallery@countyhallpottery.com.linux136.unoeuro-server.com
* We aim to educate and inspire through fun workshops. In order for all participants to enjoy our classes, we retain the right to ask individuals to leave if their conduct is deemed unsafe or offensive.
Arrival And Lateness
* Due to our studio’s location in an historic building, please get in touch before the day of your class if you have any accessibility requirements at gallery@countyhallpottery.com.linux136.unoeuro-server.com
* You will need to meet your instructor at the main entrance of County Hall on Belvedere Road as the journey through the building to our studio is not straightforward! The class will gather in the foyer – you’ll know you’re in the right place if you’re standing on a beautiful mosaic floor! – and you will then be shown to our studio.
* If you are running late and the class has already left the foyer, a member of security will escort you to the studio. This may take some time – so please arrive early. You can enjoy our Gallery space while you wait!
Facilities
* Drinking water is provided in the studio, however if you require more sustenance throughout the class please feel free to bring items along.
* Our studio has a small kitchenette you can make use of and there is an array of cafes, restaurants and shops both within County Hall and the surrounding streets.
* Our gallery has a courtyard with tables and chairs that are free to use within gallery opening hours
* Toilets are available for use and adjoin the studio space
