Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Clare Mahoney, Ceramic Artist, with historical insights on the botanical casting from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Create lasting reliefs from leaves, flowers and grasses gathered from the gardens of The Old Vicarage.
Take home two finished plaster plaques, made by hand and shaped by the quiet beauty of the natural world.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day moving between garden and studio in this immersive botanical casting masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Begin with a gentle forage through the grounds, then learn how to press botanical forms into clay, create moulds and cast detailed plaques in plaster with Cornish stone.
A calm, hands-on day of craftsmanship, observation and thoughtful making, guided by Clare Mahoney and shaped by Asterion’s heritage-inspired learning philosophy.
What you will learn
Explore the history and contemporary practice of botanical casting
Learn how to select and prepare plant material for casting
Create impressions in clay and form moulds with confidence
Cast detailed plaques in plaster with Cornish stone
Finish and personalise work ready for display
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Guided forage through the gardens with Clare
Morning studio session creating a smaller practice plaque
Demonstrations in mould-making and plaster casting
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon session creating a larger finished plaque
Final finishing touches and ribbon selection
What you’ll leave with
Two handmade plaster plaques
Practical skills in casting and mould-making
Greater confidence working with clay and plaster
A restorative day of creative making
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Wednesday 17th June 2026
Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Price: £220 per person
Includes: Full tuition, all materials, refreshments throughout the day, a seated seasonal lunch, creation of two plaster plaques
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This course draws on Clare Mahoney’s thoughtful approach to botanical casting and Asterion’s heritage-inspired learning philosophy - an unhurried, supportive day of craftsmanship, observation and quiet focus.
About Clare Mahoney
Clare Mahoney’s ceramic practice is rooted in close observation of the natural world. Time spent outdoors — attuning to seasonal rhythms, textures and patterns — informs work that is calm, considered and quietly expressive.
Back in the studio, Clare captures these elements through press-moulded plant casts, porcelain forms and collaged reliefs. She studied Art and Design at the Glasgow School of Art and completed an MA in Ceramics at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Her work has been exhibited widely across the UK.
Alongside her gallery practice, Clare is a passionate educator, creating welcoming, reflective spaces where others can explore materials, develop skills and experience the joy of making.
Learn more about Clare’s in her profile article in The Asterion Journal.
Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Clare Mahoney, Ceramic Artist, with historical insights on the botanical casting from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Create lasting reliefs from leaves, flowers and grasses gathered from the gardens of The Old Vicarage.
Take home two finished plaster plaques, made by hand and shaped by the quiet beauty of the natural world.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day moving between garden and studio in this immersive botanical casting masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Begin with a gentle forage through the grounds, then learn how to press botanical forms into clay, create moulds and cast detailed plaques in plaster with Cornish stone.
A calm, hands-on day of craftsmanship, observation and thoughtful making, guided by Clare Mahoney and shaped by Asterion’s heritage-inspired learning philosophy.
What you will learn
Explore the history and contemporary practice of botanical casting
Learn how to select and prepare plant material for casting
Create impressions in clay and form moulds with confidence
Cast detailed plaques in plaster with Cornish stone
Finish and personalise work ready for display
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Guided forage through the gardens with Clare
Morning studio session creating a smaller practice plaque
Demonstrations in mould-making and plaster casting
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon session creating a larger finished plaque
Final finishing touches and ribbon selection
What you’ll leave with
Two handmade plaster plaques
Practical skills in casting and mould-making
Greater confidence working with clay and plaster
A restorative day of creative making
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Wednesday 17th June 2026
Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Price: £220 per person
Includes: Full tuition, all materials, refreshments throughout the day, a seated seasonal lunch, creation of two plaster plaques
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This course draws on Clare Mahoney’s thoughtful approach to botanical casting and Asterion’s heritage-inspired learning philosophy - an unhurried, supportive day of craftsmanship, observation and quiet focus.
About Clare Mahoney
Clare Mahoney’s ceramic practice is rooted in close observation of the natural world. Time spent outdoors — attuning to seasonal rhythms, textures and patterns — informs work that is calm, considered and quietly expressive.
Back in the studio, Clare captures these elements through press-moulded plant casts, porcelain forms and collaged reliefs. She studied Art and Design at the Glasgow School of Art and completed an MA in Ceramics at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Her work has been exhibited widely across the UK.
Alongside her gallery practice, Clare is a passionate educator, creating welcoming, reflective spaces where others can explore materials, develop skills and experience the joy of making.
Learn more about Clare’s in her profile article in The Asterion Journal.
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