A Lovely Summer Holiday Activity for Kids (and Parents!) – Our Pottery Painting Session with Something Lovely at Greendale Farmshop

We’ve had such a fun and adventurous start to the summer holidays – packed with big days out, lots of fresh air and plenty of excitement. So, to slow things down a bit and finish off the week on a calmer note, I went looking for something a little more relaxed. And I found the perfect thing.

A few weeks ago, I met the lovely owners of Something Lovely Pottery, a local pottery painting business based in Sidmouth, while we were visiting the Greendale Summer Fete. Emma and Rosie invited us along to try one of their pop-up workshops, which they’re hosting at Greendale Farmshop every other Thursday during the summer holidays. It felt like the perfect opportunity to finally try something I’ve been wanting to do for ages — pottery painting with my children!

What the Session Was Like

When we arrived, Emma and Rosie welcomed us so warmly. The tables were beautifully set up, and everything had been so thoughtfully laid out — it instantly felt calm and creative. Each place setting had a laminated instruction sheet with some really helpful tips on how to paint the pottery, including how many coats of paint to use, colour mixing guidance, and ideas to get started.

The paint is all washable and non-toxic, which made me feel instantly at ease with the kids handling everything — and it’s even pet-safe too, which is brilliant if you fancy trying one of their dog or baby print sessions!

The session lasted around an hour and a half, which was just right. My 10-year-old son chose a penguin (his current favourite animal!) and my 8-year-old daughter picked a super cute kitten. They both completely loved it. It was honestly such a relaxing activity — they chatted, focused on their designs, and came up with totally different ideas, which I loved watching come to life.

My daughter could have happily stayed for another hour painting away, but the time was just right for my son’s concentration levels. The atmosphere was really calm and low-pressure, and the ladies were always on hand to offer encouragement or grab extra paint colours when needed.

And yes, in case you’re wondering, I was itching to join in myself – I’ve already messaged some family members to say we have to book a grown-up session at their Sidmouth studio very soon. (I may have also started a Pinterest board for pottery painting inspiration already… just saying.)

What Happens After the Session?

Once you’ve finished painting, Emma and Rosie take your creations away to glaze and fire them. It takes around two weeks to get them back, and you can choose to collect them either from Greendale Farmshop or directly from their Sidmouth studio.

They also gave the kids a drink and a biscuit during the session, which was a lovely touch and kept the energy levels up.

Details to Know

• Age suitability: 6+ (children can be dropped off if you stay on the Greendale site)

• Paint: Washable and non-toxic (great for little ones or pets)

• Dishwasher safe: Yes! Though not microwave safe

• Collection: Pieces are glazed and ready 2 weeks later

• Location: Greendale Farmshop (plus regular sessions in their Sidmouth studio)

Upcoming Sessions at Greendale

They’re running two more sessions this summer at Greendale — on 14th and 28th August. Each day includes three workshops (11am, 1pm, and 3pm), where you can choose to paint either a bowl, a cup, or an animal. The type of item changes with each session, but if you came to all three 11am sessions, for example, you’d do all three items eventually.

So yes — a beautiful, creative, calm way to spend time together as a family. Whether you’re local or visiting Devon during the summer holidays, I’d highly recommend giving Something Lovely a try. My children can’t wait to see their finished pieces, and I can’t wait to go back myself!