Emma Louise Payne

Since establishing her studio in 2017, Emma has worked with leading creative practices and hospitality clients including Red Deer, MBDS, Dre Studios, Hotel 1 Mayfair and Browns. Her work spans sculptural lighting, vessels, tableware, hardware and architectural details, combining a strong design sensibility with the individuality of handmade production.

Emma’s bespoke practice is rooted in collaboration. Working closely with design teams from concept through to production, she develops forms, glazes, colours and finishes that respond to the character of a particular interior. Her pieces can be produced as one-off statement objects or developed into larger collections, allowing a distinctive ceramic language to run throughout a hospitality project.

For Birch Hotel in Cheshunt, Emma designed and produced more than 1,200 bespoke objects over a year, including coathooks, pendant lights, beer taps, bowls and vases, working alongside Red Deer architects. The project demonstrated her ability to combine craftsmanship with the scale and consistency required for ambitious interiors.

Emma studied Ceramic Design at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen and has undertaken residencies in Norway, China and Denmark. Her practice celebrates the subtle variations of the handmade, creating objects that bring tactility, character and a sense of place to contemporary interiors.