Jess is an artist from East Lothian, living and working in London. She first studied fashion design in Scotland before moving south to complete her MA in fashion artefact at the London College of Fashion. After graduating, Jess spent time working with master leather specialist Bill Amberg, developing her skills with leather in the realm of interiors and restoration. Today she has her studio at Cockpit Arts in Deptford, where she is a dynamic and valued member of the creative community. She describes her practice as being ‘driven by the desire to tell stories through the exploration of new materials, processes, and craft techniques’. We love working with Jess on a range of small leather goods that celebrate the inherent properties of the material, capturing an evocative sense of place. Jess wraps stones from various locations around Scotland in leather jackets for Bard. These have quickly become one of our most popular works, making homes on the desks and shelves of fans around the globe.

What Value does Craft have in daily life?

I think it is really hard to say why we value certain objects over others. I have a sea shell at home with a little colourful smiley face on it that I found while I was with friends on the beach in Scotland. There was a small pile of them and all three of us picked one up. The shell reminds me of that evening: the wine, my friends, and the sea and it has become precious. Craft is important because you can feel the effort that has gone into the object. The hours of work, sketches, delicate changes, mistakes. When you own an object that was made by hand, you are getting a little bit of the maker and the memories of where it was created.

What does Scottishness mean to you?

Home. Fresh air. Music. Myths. Jumpers. Friendly faces. Cullen Skink. Wilderness. Sheep. The Sea. Kindness. Being sent haggis is the post by your dad to remind you to come and visit.