• Stephen trains a trainee student in polishing for the heritage crafts

  • 5 day Ceramic Painting Masterclass

    with Lee Price

  • Deadline for applications: 1 November 2026

    Where: Duchess China 1888, Uttoxeter Rd, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 1PB

    When: 7 to 11 December 2026, 10am to 4pm each day with a lunch break (lunch provided)

    Cost: £300 (three free bursary places available for those from under-represented communities or facing financial hardship – subject to availability)


    Join prestige artist Lee Price for a five-day intensive course on the art and endangered craft of Ceramic Painting to create a masterpiece.

    With close to forty years of experience holding the mantle of decorative ceramic heritage Lee is one of the unsung heroes of British craft. He works out of Duchess China 1888, one of the few remaining producers of fine bone china in the UK; the factory itself is home to a wealth of knowledge, experience and skill and sits at the heart of the historic Potteries in Longton. 

    With support from the Goldsmiths’ Foundation, Heritage Crafts has partnered with Lee to produce a new film on Ceramic Painting, helping to capture and transmit the skill for future generations. Lee is delivering this five-day course for students eager to learn these skills and the film will be accessible to all for free as a key learning resource to enhance the hands-on experience.

    Ceramic Painting is the art and craft of on-glaze ceramic decoration using traditional methods and materials such as metallic oxide paints, oil-based mediums, lithography, raised paste and gold gilding. The work is incredibly detailed and precise, producing exquisite results and highly satisfying finishes. 

    Lee Price is one of the last remaining Ceramic Artists in this industry today. Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Lee has worked in the Staffordshire potteries' for over 40 years, and trained with both Royal Doulton and Minton. Lee's past customers and private commissions range from the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to Sir Elton John, and his work is recognised across the globe for its quality and exceptional attention to detail. Lee is responsible for all the current Royal Collection hand-painted Prestige pieces, and his work has become highly desirable and collectible. 

    He is incredibly passionate about the skills he has learned over the course of his career. Heritage Crafts have partnered with Duchess China 1888 to offer both the public and working professionals the chance to train with Lee in a unique location and gain hands-on experience. This will include close tuition on a range of painting and decorative techniques, guidance on traditional materials and colour, and exploration and study of ceramic design. Learn these high end skills that elevate bone china ceramics to coveted masterpieces. 

    At the end of the course, participants will have learned the principles of ceramic painting and will take away their own hand-finished piece, an original Duchess China 1888 eight-inch plate with a hand-painted centre, three side panels and raised paste gold sprays on a black border.

    There are eight places available, providing a focused and supportive learning environment.

    Pure Turpentine is used throughout this process. If you have an allergy to this please let us know.

    Bursaries

    To ensure equitable access to this vital training opportunity, we are providing three free bursary places for individuals from under-represented communities or facing financial hardship – subject to availability. You will have the option of applying for a bursary in the application form.

    Please note, places will be allocated based on suitability. Please fill in the application form and Heritage Crafts will contact you with news of whether you have been accepted onto the course.

    Programme

    • Introduction to materials, tools and techniques
    • Overview of Duchess China 1888 history and design archive 
    • Tour of Gladstone Museum
    • Receive the original gilded ceramic plate, the primary workpiece for the course
    • Applying Duchess China 1888 backstamp using lithography
    • Tracing artwork
    • Washing in using raised paste
    • Mixing metallic oxide colours 
    • Adjusting the palette
    • First fire stage painting
    • Cutting in with raised paste
    • First fire
    • Second fire stage painting
    • Paste cuts
    • Second fire
    • Third fire stage painting
    • Gold covering
    • Third firing
    • Gold burnishing
    • Result! 

    How to get to Duchess China 1888 by public transport

    30 minutes by bus (Bus 1 or 11) from Stoke-on-Trent city centre 

    Lunch

    Catered lunches will be provided. Once your place has been confirmed we will ask for dietary requirements. 

    If you have any questions feel free to email Finn Arschavir, Red List Research Assistant, at finn@heritagecrafts.org.uk.

  • Application form

  • * Please note, we will only use this information to keep you updated about the work of Heritage Crafts, in accordance with our privacy policy. Heritage Crafts does not pass on contact details to any other individual or organisation.

  • Date of birth (ie 31/12/1990)
     / /
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
  • Are you a Heritage Crafts member?*

  • If no, please take this opportunity to explore how being a member can further support both you and us as a charity. Find out more here.

  • If you're not already a member, would you like to be added to our mailing list?

  • Eligibility

    We are only able to offer course places to people that are based in the UK.
  • Are you based in the UK and intend to continue practising your craft in the UK?*

  • Optional – funded bursary places

  • Not everyone has the same opportunities in life. This section is targeted to trainees who feel (or have felt) challenges accessing or participating in their chosen craft as a result of financial hardship, or their background, or being part of an under-represented group in heritage crafts. We believe that the value of our craft heritage comes from the diversity of skills and traditions across all of our communities. We want everyone to feel included in heritage crafts.

  • Do you wish to apply for one of three bursary places?
  • Do you feel that any of the following factors are or have been a barrier to you accessing and participating in craft? Please note: even if none of these apply to you then you will still be considered on the basis of financial need. Tick all that apply.
  • Should be Empty: