Melissa Cole

I have an enthusiastic approach to teaching sculptural and traditional blacksmithing that comes form my passion for the making techniques and applying those to more contemporary design. I enjoy the challenge of showing how to work the steel into shapes that are expressive and dynamic but also come from a more experimental process where you can develop ideas as you discover the processes of making. Having taught privately for the last five years from my own forge, I enjoy enabling my students to realise their designs while learning new skills and enjoying the making process.

An insight into how using the making techniques of a blacksmith can transform forged steel. I aim to teach how steel can be delicate and suggestive of form and line rather than the heavy inaccessible sculpture medium it is often perceived to be. Design is an important part of the learning process of my courses and I encourage this in all forms, not specifically pen and paper work. I want my students to leave with a completed piece of work and the enthusiasm to try it all again!

Yes, all the traditional forging skills; drawing down points or tapers, upsetting, punching holes (a favourite of mine!), splitting, bending shaping and spreading, texturing and some fire welding where appropriate. I also embrace the modern techniques like MIG welding, grinding, power hammer work and using presses to create bends.

The ancient techniques of forging metal by hand are integral to the sculptural forms I make. My sculptures have an intimate and delicate nature belying the strength of their construction and are produced in reaction to immediate emotions and experiences, each unique to their moment of creation. My work is inspired by form and the imagined expressions of emotions and posturing within relationships found in human, animal and bird life.

Examples of my work can be seen at Rabley Contemporary Drawing Centre, Marlborough; Dolby Laboratories HQ in Wiltshire; Mountwise Estate, Plymouth; The Neeld Hall in Chippenham and Chippenham Town Bridge, Wiltshire; Salisbury High School and over 35 schools across the south west. I have work at my own gallery which is open by appointment and during Marlborough Open Studios during July. I also run a large scale sculpture exhibition bi-annually from my home.

BA (Hons) Art Education Studies. Cardiff Institute Of Higher Education. Following my degree, I shared a workshop and trained with my father Hector Cole who is a Silver medallist with The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. I learnt all my traditional making skills with him and applied them to the art training I had to create more contemporary blacksmithing work. 2007 Bronze Medal. FWCB. The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.

Since starting in 1993, I have been teaching as an artist in Residence in primary, secondary and community education settings across the South West. Projects have ranged from three days to two years and I have run teacher training sessions and given talks for artists looking to work within education. Most residencies involved me taking my equipment on site and producing sculptural metal work for the school grounds with student participation at all levels from selecting the site to making the work. I have been teaching private courses from my own workshop near Marlborough for the past five years focusing on more contemporary and sculptural course days and introducing people to blacksmithing prior to setting up their own forge or embarking on a full time course. I also do welding and fabrication day courses for artists wanting experiment with steel as a new medium. 1998 – 2001 Part time lecturer on the Creative Metal Work and Blacksmithing Course. Swindon College.

I have work in private collections in the UK and abroad

Yes, me and my work have appeared in The Garden Design Journal Jan 2010. ‘Countryfile’ BBC One June 2009. ‘Grand Designs’ Channel Four Rabley Barn Gates project Feb 2009. AN magazine, July 2009. Western Daily Press West Country Life Supplement Nov 2008. Out and About, Newbury Weekly News supplement Feb 2008. BBC Woman’s Hour. November 2007. Telegraph Weekend Section June 2007. Meridian News August 2006. Wiltshire Life Magazine April 2005, February 2004. Chroma Magazine, August 2004. Western Daily Press, West Country Life Supplement, June 2004. Artist Blacksmith, Autumn 2002. Period Living & Traditional Homes April 2000. Cotswold Life Magazine March 1999. Times Educational Supplement, April 1999. Art & Craft, Design & Technology June 1996

British Artist Blacksmiths Association