Emma J V Parker was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the UK and, seeking new frontiers, she immigrated to Australia in 2018 and is now based in Melbourne. Parker earned a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Ceramics and Master of Arts from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, UK. Alongside her studio practice she trained as a secondary school teacher and has worked with ceramics in arts education in both the UK and Australia. 

Following a residency at Northcote Pottery Supplies in 2022 Parker held a solo exhibition at Canberra Potters Society (ACT) and Brunswick Street Gallery (Vic). Her work was acquired from the 2022 Clunes Ceramics Award finalist’s exhibition by the Art Gallery of Ballarat; and by the North Queensland Potters Association from the 2024 NQCA finalists' exhibition. Parker was also the winner of the 2025 Klytie Pate Ceramics Award and her work is held in the collection of the Australiana Fund.

Parker’s work is informed by a lifelong fascination with storytelling. She is deeply engaged by the notion of narrative through surface decoration and draws upon this in her ceramic practice, imbuing figurative forms with deeper meaning. Perpetually engaged by her new surroundings Parker is stimulated to reassess aspects of British and colonial histories through her work.