first week in australia

well iv been in oz for a whole week the jet lag took a while to wear off but all in all its been great so far, ive seen kangaroos and lizards and wombats! The workshop im in has everything you could want to forge steel an iron. 7cwt massey power hammer 1000 ton hydraulic press, and many more power hammers including a very dinky 25kg anyang! we are currently making things to fill up a forge shop window such as tables and candleabras etc... as well as tools, tongs, hammers and other stuff. The weather has been 32 degrees during the day but it is cool in the workshop which is a bit of a good do! will keep you all posted on my adventures in upside down town :)

Off to Australia

Well as i write this i am hours away from boarding a flight to Australia where i will be living and working with Mr Glenn Moon of Braidwood NSW. I am very excited and also nervous but I'm sure it will be amazing! I am all packed had many going away parties and night outs and i am very fortunate to have the friends and family around me giving me constant support on the build up to today so thank you everyone! i will be posting lots of pictures and updates of my adventures so keep checking this space! well all that's left to say is HOOROO!

large coffee table for sale £3500 ono

The large coffee table pictured below is for sale, i forgot to mention this when i posted the pictures of it if you have any questions or are interested please dont hesitate to email me at shomonalee@hotmail.co.uk

thank you!

the next chapter....

In the past few weeks i have been very busy with the final show in Hereford and new designers in London which were both fantastic and a great success for everyone that took part. I have also sold my first piece which i am very pleased about and to top it all off i have graduated with a 2:1! I would like to thank everyone at the college for there constant support and professionalism, and all my friends and family for there support and belief in my abilities, they know who they are so i wont name names. In September i am due to fly to Australia to live and work with a blacksmith out there for a year or two, learn more about the craft and also see the big wide world, i am very nervous but its something i have to do otherwise i will regret it forever an I'm sure it will be amazing and id like to thank everyone for there support in my decision on going! so cheers!

large fire place candlesticks

well after 3 whole years of my artist blacksmithing degree i have produced my last pieces of art work as a student. i am very pleased with them, they are influenced by steam engines and cathedrals. oh and yes many people say they have a certain lord of the rings feel to them......... enjoy!

Finally Finished!

well.... after many hours of blood, sweat, tears, swearing, panic and mick taking the nemesis coffee table has been completed it was forged from 40mm section into octagon and then forged to shape it has been the most demanding project of my blacksmithing carreer so far and i am just glad its finished. It measures 150cm long x 110cm wide and stands 60cm from the floor.thw wood is that of pitch pine reclaimed from old mills from around my home town in west yorkshire.

Artist Statement:

When I was young my mum and dad often took me to steam fairs, I was always overwhelmed by how big and impressive the steam engines were and still the sights, smells and sounds of steam engines remind me of those great times when I was young.

My love for large visually impressive things has become a recurring theme within my life as especially since living in Hereford I have grown to like neo-gothic architecture especially the cathedral and back home in Yorkshire I have always been fond of the city of york and its minster.

The visual strength and presence created by both steam engines and neo- gothic architecture such as cathedrals has been a constant inspiration to my style of work. I combine these with the natural plasticity of hot forged steel to produce large contemporary pieces of metal work.