Luci Noel, owner of Fodder, Hampstead

Luci Noel at Fodder in Hampstead

I am very excited to say that I have collaborated with Luci Noel who owns a fabulous shop in Hampstead called Fodder. To mark Fodder’s second anniversary in Hampstead, we decided to commission a collection and we gave 11 Fodder makers a brief of just one word: Hope. What they made of it was entirely their own. The result was The Hope Collection which is now online - a very limited collection, each piece made specifically for this exhibition. If you visit the Fodder website, you can read about the artist’s idea behind each piece. 20% of every sale from the collection throughout September 2026 will be donated to Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust.

Hope is the Thing with Feathers | Liz Vidal from The Hope Collection

Luci kindly answered my questions and you can find out more about the ethos behind Fodder here. I can massively relate to why she has a thing with ceramics and I was also thrilled to find out that her mum was a Clarice Cliff collector as I own a teacup and saucer myself and have a real fondness for her work.

I also answered some questions on the Fodder website which you can read here.

After Matisse | Studio ERS from The Hope Collection

Who are you?

I’m Luci Noel, Shopkeeper with a particular interest in craft made by UK based makers. My shop Fodder is in Hampstead, North London and I am a Londoner through and through. I grew up in Gospel Oak, studied at St Martins and following an MA I went to work in fine art fairs where I spent seven years in production and then as Fair Director of the Affordable Art Fair. In 2019 I set out to create a creative high st space that was a meeting place for coffee, community and craft. What was then Kentish Town Stores, migrated up the hill in 2024 and we are now almost two years in our new home, and rebranded to Fodder.

Marbled Vases | Emma Johnson Ceramics from The Hope Collection

Why do you also have a thing with ceramics?

I have a thing with ceramics as I feel a sense of grounding when handling handmade wares. I am a very tactile person and love the feel of pots in your hand. For me craft is the simple joy that runs through each day, it's something that enables connection even in isolation. My absolute favourite time is the very early morning, with the sun still coming up, hugging a mug of tea in the crisp air of the garden with the dog, it feels like a secret and is very restorative. Pots are comfort in the winter and the coolness of the summer. I am not a maker, I went to art school but my brain does not have the patience for making - something I am in admiration of with others. I would love to be a potter, but the learning, the repetition, the getting better and the inevitable failure to succeed are not virtues I possess. So instead I surround myself with the work of other makers and do my best to expand the craft eco system for the benefit of maker and collector alike.

When did ceramics come into your life?

Both of my parents are avid collectors of quite specific ceramics. My mum was a huge Clarice Cliff fan and had the most incredible collection while we were growing up. She had built it over years from the days you could pick pieces up in Camden Market (where she had a stall in the 70's) and took real pleasure in adding to the collection as an adult with more disposable income. My dad's taste is hugely eclectic. From art nouveau period Minton, through British studio pottery and into contemporary ceramics. Personally my taste leans toward the latter two, but I was incredibly lucky to be raised around colour, texture and ceramics. Some to be used , some not, which in my opinion as an adult defeats the point. Things in our house now are definitely to be used and enjoyed.

Where can we find you on a typical day?

North London! I have the most incredible commute to work, walking from our home in Kentish Town over the Heath to the shop in Hampstead. As I used to spend over an hour on the tube each morning this never gets old for me. I love to get there fifteen minutes early so I can chat to all our neighbours and have a coffee in the courtyard before I start. It's such a beautiful part of London I really never underestimate how lucky I am.

What are your plans for the future?

It's a really hard time for the industry and independent retail on the high street. I just hope that Fodder can weather this storm and continue to sell work by our stunning group of makers. Shops like Fodder are quite rare and I had always wanted to open in this part of town precisely for that reason. It’s so important to support our makers to carry on making, particularly in a relentless world where it feels like people are being increasingly marginalised and increased time and money is invested in growing digital platforms and interface. For me investing in the time and skill of our makers will always remain of utmost importance, so carving out a way to do that will be the future for us all.

Hollyhock Vessels | Sophie Alda from The Hope Collection

Everyday Watercolour Set | Brutes Ceramics from The Hope Collection