The Forge
Traditional craft, made by hand on the island of Stronsay.
Stronsay Forge is a small independent workshop on the island of Stronsay, in Orkney, Scotland. It's where I make things by hand, working with iron, steel, horn, leather and other materials using traditional skills and techniques.
At the Heart of the Forge
Blacksmithing is at the heart of the workshop, but it isn't the only craft you'll find here.
From hand-forged ironwork, knives and tools to horncraft, leatherwork and jewellery, I enjoy working across different materials and seeing what can be made from them.
Some pieces are practical things intended for everyday use. Others are decorative, experimental or simply something I wanted to try making.
Made on Stronsay
Living and working on a small island shapes the way I approach making things.
There's a long tradition of repairing, reusing and making what you need in places like Orkney. It's a practical attitude to materials and craftsmanship, and one that feels entirely at home in my workshop.
I work in small batches, often making individual pieces rather than producing large quantities of identical products. Some designs return regularly, while others may never be made again.
More Than Blacksmithing
Although the forge gives the workshop its name, I don't believe traditional crafts need to be kept in separate boxes.
Working with horn, leather, wood and metal opens up possibilities that wouldn't exist if I stuck to just one material.
Sometimes those crafts come together in a single piece; sometimes they're simply different things I enjoy making.
I'm continually experimenting, learning new techniques and developing ideas. Not everything I make fits neatly into a category, and that's part of the appeal.
Galaxy Bowls
Hand-forged steel, transformed by heat into shifting colours of blue, purple, copper and gold. Each Galaxy Bowl develops its own distinctive finish, making every piece unique.
From the Workshop
Something Made by Hand
Everything I make by hand has passed through my own workshop here on Stronsay.
When you buy a handmade piece from Stronsay Forge, you're buying something made by an individual craftsman, not something turned out on a factory production line.
Have a look around the shop. You never know what you might find.
EXPLORE THE SHOP