Twins

With this semi kinetic sculpture it has two of its components that can move slowly to the influence of a light breeze. Its main upright member is gracefully tapered throughout its length and also curved several times in one plane, then bolted to a block of raw Cornish granite. In turn this upright supports the two arms on either side which can move freely on a horizontal axis. These tapered and curved arms terminate in solid forged wrought iron balls affixed by tenoning. No mechanical welding is used at all in this sculpture and relies on traditional fixing methods only. Before assembly the entire structure has been fettled but still retaining the hammer and forging marks. All is then coated with several applications of a clear cellulose lacquer.

Menhir

A serious piece of larger scale forge work makes this item, together with its simplicity, an imposing structure. Starting out with a length of 40mm x 40mm solid wrought iron bar, it is heated to bright orange/yellow heat and forged to a fine point throughout its length, a process requiring a good eye to present the organic taper. Like Twins, this structure is mated to a block of raw Cornish granite by bolting right through the rock. This piece is taller than a person and finished in several coats cellulose lacquer. An installation service is available, if interested please ask for a quotation.

St Ives Gate

Tradition meets contemporary with this gate for a public space in
St Ives shared by the community. This gate is one of three commissioned for this space. A free reign was given to the design but with this particular gate reference was sought with relation to the location's original use - an agricultural field just outside a seaside town. The elements chosen and approved were a cow's tail, ears of wheat, grass, cattle, sheep and because of a scout's hut in the park, their emblem.
All these elements were forged by hand and eye and incorporated into the gate traditionally. The sheep and cattle were all cut out by hand, profiled so three dimensional then riveted to the gate structure. These gates were then fitted in situ with strap top journals and molten lead to the bottom sockets. This particular gate was finished in an organic green colour and in time for the grand opening of this community project.

Crow weathervane

Whilst performing a live demonstration of blacksmithing in Lemon Quay Square, Truro, amongst some of the interest generated was a commission for a weathervane for a private residence in Restronguet. The brief was fairly simple the structure was to be affixed, not to a rooftop but atop a tall fence panel post visible from the clients' kitchen. The challenge was for it to be lifesize and somehow when mounted to the post for it not to look 'bolted on'. The forging and assembly of the weathervane was all done in a  traditional way with hand cut lifesize 'crow' vane with directional indicators affixed by riveting. To install the weathervane to look 'unbolted' was resolved by drilling the existing wooden post centrally and vertically from the top, lowering the assembly in with a screwed flange for security, then . . . a crow's nest made from iron twigs surrounding the top of the post, then all was finished in oilbound paint much to the delight and approval of the clients.

Orbit

Another impressive sculpture from the forge at Lower Boquio Farm, its appeal coming from the extreme visual and physical strength of the installation. Three solid forged iron spheres of differing diameters are affixed invisibly to an arc of iron with differing tapers at either end. As with other sculptures in this series it is bolted right through a block of undressed raw granite, then the sculpture finished overall with burnishing but still retaining hammer and forge marks, finally several coats of clear cellulose lacquer are applied to complete this strong but elegant piece.