I was born in 1950 and brought up in Newcastle upon Tyne until the age of 11 when we moved to the Lake District village of Burneside near Kendal until I was 16 and then moved to the outskirts of Manchester (Sale) After a couple of moves in Cheshire and Shropshire with my wife, Stephanie and Daughter, Hollie. We then moved to the Limousin in South West France, where we stayed for 3 years and now we live in the South of France in the Gers department of the Midi Pyrenees. I have been involved in the design, making and selling of crafts of various kinds all my life. Such diverse crafts as Antique renovation, Wood Turning, Dried Flower design and arranging, Furniture design and manufacture, Professional Photography. Since school, where I was always top in Metalwork and Forging and had extra lessons in non ferrous work, I have always had a mind to get back into Forging as I enjoyed it so much.
I got the chance to realize my ambition by attending a full time BETEC ( Merit) in Blacksmithing and Metalwork at Warwickshire college including a City & Guilds certificate in Mags welding and now operate my Forge here at our home. I have been awarded a journeyman's certificate from The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, I have also attended a course on making Damascus and Mokume Gane with Mark Constable as well as a great deal of help from Greg Novovitch on knifemaking and lost wax process.
My special interest is in Knifemaking and I produce all kinds of fixed blade knives both in 'one off' stock items and customer special requests.
My work is available for sale directly from myself, by word of mouth and through Galleries, I am always looking for new Galleries and outlets to display my work. I would be pleased to hear from any potential clients or stockists anywhere in France or the UK , so feel free to contact me for further information.
I am happy to design and create anything that can be made from Iron, using Traditional Forging Methods either in contemporary or traditional styles. Please have a look at my online gallery for some ideas, this will be added to on a regular basis.
I also make Lampworked Glass Beads that I incorporate into jewellery as well as an addition to my metalwork.
Artist’s Statement
‘ I love the way that metal can be heated and forged to produce
something quite different such as a delicate leaf or scroll with only the
use of a
hammer and anvil. In this mass produced world I find it refreshing to be
able to offer a modern approach of an ancient craft to a discerning public.’