Howard Fenn was born in 1953 in Conisborough, a mining village in Yorkshire. He was educated at the local comprehensive school before going to Dartington Hall School in Devon which had a crucial and lasting effect on the development of his personality, work and private life.

Howard trained at Sir John Cass School of Art (now part of London Guildhall University) and gained a distinction in the Design and Craftsmanship of Silversmithing where he also won a number of prizes and commissions. After college he worked for the silversmith John Norgate and produced work for the Middle East and regimental silver for the armed forces. In 1979 Howard set up his own workshop in London near Tower Bridge. In 1994 he moved to spacious new premises in what used to be London's old leathermarket, close to London Bridge.

As well as working on one-off and specially commissioned pieces, Howard produces a range of silverware and inlaid hairbrushes which are designed to appeal to both modernists and traditionalists alike. Recently he has also become involved with architectural metalwork, lighting and furniture. He has also worked in collaboration with the London Glassblowing Workshop and with Alec Peevor the stone carver.

Howard exhibits regularly in Britain and Europe and has work in private and public collections. He has guest lectured at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Royal College of Art and taught design and silversmithing at the London Guildhall University. He is a founder member and past chairman of the Association of British Designer Silversmiths which was set up in 1996 to help promote the very best of Britain's designer silversmiths.