I take great pride in being an artist blacksmith, using traditional techniques to create hand-forged items at my forge in Belper. I mostly forge with mild steel but also experiment using copper, stainless steel and brass as well as wrought iron.
I enjoy making practical items such as pokers, fireside sets, bottle openers, hooks and door furniture, but I also love to make more delicate, decorative items.
It’s great to carryout blacksmithing demonstrations at markets, shows and arts trails. With my small travelling set-up I give people a small glimpse into the traditional craft of forging. Young and old find the spectacle fascinating – it’s heartening to see a resurgence in traditional crafts. There’s always plenty of blacksmithing questions to answer and some great chats about all things metal and steel.
The latest step in my blacksmithing journey has taken me to begin running my own courses, so that other people can experience the same enjoyment and satisfaction as I do.
