Fern studied Fine art and Art History at Kingston University with a focus on painting, then moved into the world of ceramics after taking a hand-thrown pottery class near her studio, finding inspiration from the work of Danish ceramicist Gertrud Vasegaard.

Being unable to access a wheel during lockdown, Fern turned to hand building. Her preferred method of working employs a technique called ‘nerikomi’ – a process of stacking, cutting and rolling together pieces of different coloured clays to create patterns. There are parallels in construction with another of Fern’s loves – knitting: methodically building up a pattern by hand.

Fern prefers to use stoneware, and creates the tones of her carefully chosen colour palette by staining the clay with pigment, which has to be thoroughly worked through for the colour to be consistent.

Fern’s studio overlooks the Thames at Deptford, London – the river and the city itself a constantly moving surface of textures, colour and pattern in rhythm with her work.