‘Artist Profile’
Post school education comprised a general engineering apprenticeship, including some basic blacksmithing as well as machining and other engineering disciplines.
After becoming dissatisfied with humdrum engineering jobs I decided to explore the possibilities of blacksmithing as a career change. I undertook several formal short courses on different aspects of traditional forging techniques, before setting up my own forge.
Continual practice in my own workshop, occasional periods working for other blacksmiths and regular attendance at county shows and blacksmith events have combined to develop my skills and techniques. Selling through craft outlets and galleries has honed my design style and led to the range of domestic items which comprise the majority of my current work.
I enjoy the process of heating the uniform stock metal, either new or reclaimed, until it reaches a malleable state and then using hammer blows to transform it.
Wherever possible I use traditional, ancient techniques in my work, although my forge blower is electric, not hand or foot pumped bellows, and my power hammer also runs on electric, not water or steam power as was once the case.