I’ve always been fascinated by the magic of the forge and the abilities of the blacksmith. As a child I loved the stories of epic heroes, the humble blacksmith was often the unknown hero or essential character of these stories. By achieving mastery of their craft they progressed the heroes’ journey or in some cases became the hero themselves.

One of my main inspirations for my study of blacksmithing was my Grandfather. A true hero of my childhood and role model for so much. A very practical man who seemed competent at any craft that involved his hands. On telling me stories of his days as an apprentice turner on the docks, he would describe these fantastical scenes of visiting the docks smithy (back in the 70s when these were a regular sight) and even admitting that he had no idea how they worked the magic that is forging. I knew then that I needed to understand and unlock the mysteries of forging. I’ve spent years since honing my skills to honour his memory.