About Emma Hardy
I spend much of my time out in the Peak District, walking, climbing and using the landscape as inspiration to inform my making.
Since 2018 I have been a committee member of the British Violin Making Association . I am the BVMA’s Quarterly Magazine editor, alongside acting as one of the event co-ordinators for the annual Makers’ Day festival in Kings Place, London.
In 2022 I created a decorated ‘community fiddle’ for the documentary, Folk Who Roam, with producer Emma Crome, in which we explore the connection between folk music, creativity and the importance of the right to roam in the countryside.
In 2025 I was elected chair of the board of directors for the historic grade II listed Portland Works building in which my workshop resides.
Professional Training
I studied violin making and repair under Keith Graves at Merton College, London. During my studies I worked as the manager of Les Aldrich Music, a historic shop in North London where I gained valuable insight to the every day needs of everyone from professional musicians, to parents with young children studying the violin.
After finishing my studies, I worked part time as a shop assistant for Philip Brown Violins and continued my professional development via work placements and collaborative workshops with a variety of internationally renown makers and repairers.
In 2020 I co-founded Strings Together – a learning orchestra for adult string players in East London.