The Art and Craft of the Blacksmith: Techniques and Inspiration for the Modern Smith

Author Biography

Robert Thomas has always loved working with his hands, designing and creating. Once he decided to make a career of blacksmithing, Robert set out on a three year journey to immerse himself in the craft. Robert attended The National School of Blacksmithing in Hereford, England, the top blacksmith school in the world, where he studied both traditional and artistic blacksmithing. He has forged with renowned metal artists in much of Europe, the United States, and the Middle East, receiving multiple awards for his work along the way. Utilizing this specialized schooling and international training in forging metal, Robert has fused his passion for ironwork and eye for aesthetics to create beautiful compositions that can be seen all over the world. With full engagement in the process start to finish, Robert enjoys collaborating with his clients to design and produce quality works of architecture, sculpture, furniture, lighting, and a diverse collection of custom pieces. In 2013, Robert founded Robert Thomas Iron Design, a custom ironwork workshop and studio based in Charleston, South Carolina. Robert brought together a team of exceptional blacksmiths with specialized skill sets to take on some of the most complex ironwork projects in the country.