THE winner of BBC Two’s Great Pottery Throw Down took a break from his modelling schedule to teach students about careers in ceramics.

Ryan Barrett, who won the most recent series of The Great Pottery Throw Down, visited Harwich and Dovercourt School to share his tips and experiences with students.

The 31-year-old, who runs his own ceramics business and models for designer brands including Versace, got in contact with his former art teacher Louise Craigie to see if he could teach students about the art of pottery.

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Louise taught Ryan when he was a student at Chantry High School, in Ipswich, and they remained in contact while he studied fine art and textiles at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and she while working at the Dovercourt school.

She said: “I remember getting a phone call from the BBC to see if I would be a reference for Ryan to enter the Great Pottery Throw Down.

“I was contacted, along with his grandma, as we were both considered to be his biggest inspirations which was very touching.”

Louise said that Ryan got involved in pottery about three years ago after he took a date to a pottery class which kick-started a love of the art form.

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She said: “He discovered pottery was a way of keeping himself creative without the pressures of work and the outside world.”

Ryan visited Harwich and Dovercourt School and worked with 15 art students across year ten and sixth form for the day.

He opened the session with a talk about his life before getting the students involved with pottery and giving them a chance to spin clay on the pottery wheel.

Louise said: “The enrichment day gave the students the chance to get involved hands on with pottery.

“Everyone was engaged with Ryan’s visit and we as teachers got get such an energy out of students who enjoy learning.”