Wrought Iron

'Go wash the smut from thy face, And come and sit at my right hand.' Old legend of King Solomon and the Temple.

John is an artist blacksmith, using only pure forging techniques, executing all his hand forged work in the fire and on the anvil. Like the traditional blacksmith of old, John maintains their lore by forging anything of quality in wrought iron to clients designs, assists with clients designs or realizes design proposals of his own. John has had a lifelong interest in blacksmithing and has attended blacksmithing courses at Plumpton Agricultural College under the tutelage of Frank Dean of Rodmell in Sussex. With seventy years of experience, Frank further whetted John's appetite for traditional blacksmithing. After attending several week long open courses over two years under the expert tutelage of Paul Allen, FWCB, LWCB, John was privileged to be selected as one of only ten nationally and annually to serve a blacksmithing apprenticeship scheme with the Countryside Agency ~ The New Entrants Training Scheme ~ NETS. With the Countryside Agency he honed his skills as a traditional blacksmith, the curriculum based on pure hand forged, quality wrought ironwork. This formal discipline has formed the ethos of Boquio Wrought Iron by being applied equally to both traditional and contemporary wrought iron.

On completion of the apprenticeship John was awarded a Certificate of Merit endorsed by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. It seemed natural to pursue a recognition of continual advancement within the craft and John made application to the Worshipful Company for a Diploma of Merit making him an Associate of the Company.

The Diploma is not awarded lightly and John had to prove his blacksmithing skills over several years to be considered. He had to demonstrate competence in making different types of articles involving many techniques and be able to follow accurately the designs of others as well as applying the techniques to his own designs.

Regularly demonstrating his blacksmithing skills in public John brings a much-needed awareness of the traditional blacksmithing profession to those who have never seen an artist blacksmith at work. He delights children and adults alike with, amongst other things, his hand forged snails which all come with a birth certificate and a guarantee not to eat the plants! John demonstrates his blacksmithing skills at many shows and events. Clients and venues include the National Trust, English Heritage, Cornwall County Council, Cornwall Enterprise, Hall for Cornwall, Pencarrow House ~ Bodmin, Mawnan Anvil Trust in Cornwall and the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, West Sussex.

John runs blacksmithing courses at the forge at Lower Boquio Farm, embracing all the skills of traditional blacksmithing and contemporary wrought iron. These courses embody the thrill of fire and forgework, the exciting dynamics of iron changing form, the urgency of decisions, all these animated facets of this ancient art facilitating the blacksmithing experience.

A designer-maker, John's portfolio embraces both traditional and contemporary blacksmithing. More complex and larger forms are being undertaken; the range, including commissions, widens as his client base broadens.

Boquio Iron & Glass is a member of Cornwall County Council's Approved Origin Scheme Made in Cornwall. The highly successful scheme allows those invited to join to display the distinctive engine house logo confirming their products and working practices are genuinely Cornish. Boquio Iron & Glass regularly exhibits at the Cornwall Crafts Association galleries at Trelissick, Trelowarren and Penlee House, showcases work at its own exhibitions and enjoys exhibiting with other local Cornish artists. Boquio Iron & Glass is a member of the prestigious Hidden Art Cornwall, a franchise in association with University College Falmouth. See our events page for details of forthcoming activities.