 Claudia PetleyClaudia works on her designs to the smallest detail until the whole piece is balanced. She particularly considers nature and classical proportions and tries to reflect this harmony in her work.
"Almost everything I do is put through the fire and forged in some way". Claudia will forge steel to a fine point, then scroll, curl or knot it to "reveal just how pliable the material is by what can be done with it". She also plaits and rivets metal, preferring traditional forging techniques combining decoration with function.
Claudia specialises in Repoussé work, demonstrated in the Lion and Unicorn centrepiece she made for the gates of Kensington Palace. Her work ranges from small interior items to large architectural commissions.
Claudia's work shows elegance and precision. Her instinct and feel for her material turns a coarse, lifeless piece of steel into something animate and tactile. |
Paul ShepherdPaul began Blacksmithing after leaving school in 1986. His training was traditionally focused, and attending the Rural Development Commission at Salisbury, he developed these skills and completed his apprenticeship with a love of traditional style ironwork.
It was sharing a workshop with Claudia Petley in 1992 that opened up a new dimension to his work. Paul saw the potential of combining his traditional skills with modern design. Since then, his work has progressed from small interior pieces to larger architectural commissions, but he strives to maintain the precision and integrity, whatever the scale.
For the future, Paul wishes to develop his designs of gates, railings and window grilles. |
