|
|
| |
|
|
| |
I took over the running of the village smithy in Dent in 2006 after serving
an informal 5-year apprenticeship working for an established blacksmith.
My work is varied, ranging from small and intricate one-off fittings to
larger scale architectural installations and pieces of furniture. My
special interest is in the employment of the traditional techniques of hot
forgework, and whilst I acknowledge the contribution of modern labour-saving
fabrication methods in bringing down the cost of the readily-available
ironwork on the market, I do not believe in compromising the integrity of a
piece with such economies when a more time-consuming technique is the ideal.
However, if using old skills and tools is essential in the true recreation
of original designs for restoration projects, my commitment to the
traditions of my craft does not restrict me to following only traditional
designs. There is no reason why these techniques cannot be applied to the
most contempory of forms, and nothing to stop quite original ideas being
realised by time-honoured means.
Although often very decorative, almost everything I make serves a useful
purpose of some sort, and the efficiency with which it does so is as
important to me as is its aesthetic qualities. I am happy to collaborate
with other involved parties - architects, designers, joiners,
furnituremakers and stonemasons - to ensure that the best possible outcome
is achieved. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
