Creatives at the Clay Half
Meet the Team
The Clay Half Team
Irene - middle in the photo above is the founder, owner and main tutor at the Clay Half. With many years of experience making and selling work as well as teaching since 2016, Irene continues to develop her skills and knowledge in many areas so that she can inspire and teach the students attending classes at the Clay Half.
Sam Wyness - right in above photo - is a full time Child Practitioner at a local primary school but helped Irene to set up the Clay Half in 2022 and has run the Adult and Child Pottery Classes and many glazing classes since. Developing her own work since 2022, she established her own home studio in 2025 and sells her work locally through creative markets.
In addition we have a Arwen Haselden a local printmaker, who is furthering her knowledge of ceramics with us and is leading the Mud Club classes.
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Sasha Mannin has been a regular tutor since 2023 but is currently concentrating on her wood firing work and isn't currently teaching regularly with us but is an appreciated standby if needed!
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Between us we are able to offer many classes and are the team running the Clay Half, doing all the behind the scene things that a busy pottery studio needs to enable it to run smoothly.​
Irene Hughes
Founder & Potter
It is Irene's hope that the Clay Half will enable others to follow her footsteps, taking an aspiration and making it a reality.
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Irene has been making, selling and teaching pottery locally since 2016. Her interest in pottery developed from childhood and she began learning the craft at Angus College leisure classes in 2002.
Making her own ceramic work from her home garden studio in the heart of Montrose, Irene makes functional stoneware ceramics, the decoration inspired by the local sea and landscapes, these are sold in various locations locally including at the Clay Half.​
Sam Wyness
Child Practitioner & Potter
Sam has been developing her pottery skills since 2020, a hobby that became a passion from which she has never looked back and led her to playing a vital part in helping to set up the Clay Half.
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Sam is a qualified early years practitioner currently working with Angus Council and she brings these aspects together perfectly when teaching the Clay Half's Adult and Child classes.
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Sam has established her own home studio in the garage and some of her amazing pots are sold in the Clay Half.