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2nd & 3rd August 2025
LEAMINGTON SPA
10am-6pm
Chris The Smith
Website:
'@christhesmith_uk
'@christhesmithuk
Arch Companion Set
Encircled Sphere Candlestick
Spiralis Triple Plate in Oak Base
Biography
As a blacksmith and therefore a practitioner of a very traditional craft I want to make pieces that prove that a craft so old still has relevance in the modern world. I try to do this by creating pieces which are rooted in tradition through their method of manufacture but are designed to fit within a modern aesthetic.
I want to create pieces which are both useful and decorative, I want my aesthetic to appeal to a wide audience in the hope that it shows that the art of blacksmithing is something which is alive and well in modern society and that it has evolved beyond the traditional trades of farriery and bladesmithing, that it has transformed into something that can still hold its own in a marketplace full of items that are designed to be used and discarded.
inspiration
My main inspiration is the process of forging itself, even after 15 years of working hot steel I still find the process of forging fascinating and incredibly enjoyable.
I thoroughly enjoy the problem solving aspect of my craft, working out how to create new forms or make pieces perform the function desired by a client or myself.
Over the years I’ve often found myself gravitating towards forms with smooth flowing curves, I like to deign and make pieces which, although made from solid steel, look delicate and elegant. I appreciate designs that utilise simple geometric forms and balanced ratios and negative spaces, so a lot of my work has a stripped-back almost industrial feel to them which I find gives customers a sense of solidity and reliability. Although repeat custom is always appreciated, I have faith that if someone purchases an item from me, they’ll never need a replacement.
medium
The vast majority of my work is made from steel bar which I cut to the required length and heat in a traditional coke forge. Once the steel has reached around 800c I then begin to work the bar into shape using a hammer and tongs over my anvil which is roughly 120 years old.
Mild steel is incredibly malleable at this temperature which allows me to make a huge variety of shapes using the basic handtools although occasionally I need to make a jig or former which allows me to replicate the same shapes again and again.
Because the tools and techniques used in modern blacksmithing have remained largely unchanged for millennia I have been able to restore and repair items which are decades or sometimes centuries old.