CV and Qualifications

Upon Leaving school i took a foundation Diploma in Art and Design. (2003), Before taking a gap year to work-

. 2005-2007 BA HONS Fine Art, Margret Street Birmingham City University
I took a Bachelors in Fine art, at Margret street in Birmingham where I specialised in painting and illustration.

I spent several months  working at a historic canal boatyard. During this year, also took some time out during the weekends to practice  and refine my own metal working and basic welding skills. This Culminated in a small gate commission for a family friend.-

. 2007-2008 ‘Certificate in Blacksmithing and Metal Work’, Warwickshire collage-

 

A one year intensive introduction to all the skills required to set up business as a modern Blacksmith.

Subjects included, a rigorous and intensive introduction to the traditional forge skills, tool and  techniques of  blacksmiths of centuries past- However the course also included modules in:

. -Artistic Design Drawing

. -Technical Design Drawing,

. -Welding theory

. -Practical welding, with graded tests for Gas welding, Arc welding and Mig welding,

. -A two term business studies model.

I completed the Certificate course with distinctions in all classes.

I won prizes for my final end of year project design piece at various agricultural shows, including the Royal Show, and The Three Counties agricultural show Backsmithing competitions.

I sold my end of year project, a garden sculpture, and used the money to help set up my own business as a self employed Blacksmith

I was very lucky to be able to set up my business in a historic forge, a building dating back to 1790 and purpose built as a blacksmith workshop. The building was the perfect starting point for my business, and a delightful historic space to occupy. However, as an old structure and a listed building it began to outgrow my needs, as my customer base grew, and the scale and types of projects i undertook grew more complicated.

in 2015, i moved my Business from the centre of a busy town in north Oxfordshire to a quiet location in Bampton, a short drive west of the city of Oxford.